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

Who the Giants took: Roderick (RJ) Dabovich, RHP, Arizona State

114th overall pick
Expected Signing Bonus: Slot value
Future-Value Grade: 35+
Grade: B+

Dabovich was picked right around where he was ranked on most big boards. A primary reliever out of the Arizona State bullpen over the past three seasons, Dabovich has flashed premium stuff and some scouts think it could play in a rotation.

He doesn’t have the typical violent delivery you associate with big bullpen stuff and inconsistent control and so it’s easy to dream him into a more premium role. Still, Dabovich’s numbers leave room to question whether he’s close to putting together the consistency to be successful in the rotation.

Dabovich was at his best in the Cape Cod League when he was a tweener working out of the bullpen and a bit as a starter. In his 19 innings on the Cape (across 7 games and 4 starts), Dabovich struck out 29 batters and walked just 5. He held the high strikeout rates in a small-sample size this spring, but his walk rate soared to 6.9 per nine innings, raising even further questions around his ability to throw strikes.

Dabovich has the best stuff of any pitcher the Giants drafted. His fastball sits between 93-95mph and has touched 98mph. His curveball is probably the best secondary pitch in his offering at the moment, but his slider has plus potential if he can work out some of its inconsistencies.

Dabovich is further along in his development than Giants pitcher Sam Coonrod was at this point and he’s a bit more gifted tools wise, but he has a similar profile. He’ll be an exciting project for the team’s development team.