SF Giants 2020 MLB draft grades: What you need to know about each pick

Who the Giants took: Kyle Harrison, LHP, De La Salle HS (CA)

85th overall pick
Expected Signing Bonus: Well-above slot value
Future-Value Grade: 40
Grade: A-

A number of outlets rank Harrison as the second-best prospect in the Giants draft class. Law was the high man on Harrison, ranking him the 54th best prospect in the class. MLB.com had him at 61, while BA and FanGraphs were lower at 71 and 103 respectively.  Regardless of the ranking though, given Harrison’s commitment to UCLA, I’d expect him to command a bonus between $1.5MM-$2MM.

If indeed his price was that high, then the Giants indeed probably had to go under-slot with both Schmitt and Glowenke, but if he signs towards the lower end of that range then it might be reasonable to speculate the Giants had another high priced prospect in mind to pair with Harrison.

Harrison is a well-developed prep arm who’s far enough ahead that his advanced age (closer to 19 than 18) doesn’t concern me as much as I usually would be. His profile isn’t too dissimilar from Trevor McDonald, an over-slot prep pitcher the Giants nabbed last year. Both players put on 15-20 lbs leading up to their senior season and showed the ability to hold low-90s velocity on a fastball with strong spin rates that play up.

Harrison has a good feel for pitching and a breaking ball that is inconsistent but flashes plus-break. His motion is a bit clunky and he tends to short arm his pitches, which generates inconsistent arm action, but that leaves some more ways to dream on his development. Generally, if guys can pitch they can make the necessary improvements and Harrison has that feel.