Five Way-Too-Early 2021 Draft Prospects for the SF Giants

SF Giants Way-Too-Early 2021 MLB Draft Targets:
2. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

Alex Binelas may fit a part of Zaidi and Holmes’ profile, as a premium college bat, but the particulars are a bit dicier. If the Giants drafted Binelas with the 14th overall pick next year, he would be the first collegiate third baseman drafted by the team since Zaidi was hired.

Randomness explains part of that trend, but Zaidi and Holmes have shown a penchant for defensive versatility. Binelas projects as an average defensive third baseman at best and may have to move to first base as he develops. With that said, his bat is one of the best in college baseball. Even with his limitations, if he produces like scouts expect in 2021, it’s hard to see the Giants passing on his offensive production at 14.

An injured hamate bone limited him to just seven plate appearances this spring, but in 2019, his first season of collegiate eligibility, Binelas blasted 14 home runs and posted an impressive .291/.383/.612 triple-slash in 243 plate appearances. His strikeout-to-walk ratio (48 to 27) wasn’t ideal, but his strikeout rate was still below 20% and paired with a solid 11.1% walk-rate.

Binelas’ hit tool isn’t as refined as Alec Bohm’s was in 2018, who I suspect a Zaidi/Holmes regime would have drafted over Bart with the second overall pick, but otherwise shares a lot of the same characteristics.

Assuming his strikeout and walk rates trend in the right direction next season, I suspect that he’ll be the type of hitter that makes even Zaidi willing to sacrifice defensive versatility.

Giants Prospect Comp: Hunter Bishop + Upgraded Hit Tool – Outfield Defense/Speed