Grading the SF Giants' last 5 first-round draft picks (there's 1 obvious A)

With the 2026 MLB Draft coming up this weekend, it’s worth it to look back at how the SF Giants have fared in recent drafts. We looked at some of the biggest draft busts in recent memory, but now it’s time to dive into the team’s last five first-round picks.

San Francisco holds the No. 4 overall pick in the draft and they have a bit of a complicated history when drafting in the top five. They’ve taken some franchise-altering players but there have also been some duds.

One hopes they land one of those franchise-changers this time around, but based on their recent history in the first round that may be wishful thinking.

Grading Giants’ last five first-round picks

Will Bednar (2021)

The Giants selected right-handed pitcher Will Bednar with the No. 14 overall pick in the draft. He was a highly touted pitcher out of Mississippi State but has still yet to make his big league debut nearly five years later.

This year across Double-A and Triple-A he has a 4.11 ERA across 35 innings pitched. The Giants may as well give him a chance in the big leagues since the bullpen is so dreadful but it’s hard to see him staying with the Giants much longer. 

His career ERA in the minors is 4.95 so he has not lived up to expectations which is why the Giants get a D- for drafting him.

Reggie Crawford (2022)

It was hard not to get excited about Reggie Crawford when the Giants drafted him No. 30 overall in 2022. A two-way prospect out of Connecticut, he had a ton of potential even though there were concerns about injuries.

In four minor league seasons as a hitter he’s slashed .240/.316/.400 with two homers and nine runs batted in across 57 plate appearances. As a pitcher he has a 2.89 ERA in 37 and 1/3 innings pitched.

Injuries have plagued him repeatedly but he is now back on the field as a hitter, and wants to pitch again, so maybe there’s some hope he could develop into something, but the pick has not panned out so far which is why the Giants get a D+.

Bryce Eldridge (2023)

Drafted No. 16 overall out of high school in 2023, the Giants were hoping that Eldridge could develop into a tall left-handed masher. That’s exactly what he seems to be three years later as he’s done really well at the big league level this year.

He’s hitting .273/.360/.475 with seven homers and 19 runs batted in and has inserted himself into the NL Rookie of the Year race. He may very well end up being the face of the franchise in a few years which is why the Giants get an A grade.

James Tibbs III (2024)

Drafted out of Florida State with the No. 13 overall pick in 2024, Tibbs showed some promise while he was with the Giants but the team was obviously comfortable parting with him to land Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.

Tibbs is now with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he’s having a great season. He seems destined to torment the Giants for years now so the Giants get a C+ because they seem to have identified a strong player but then let him go in a deal they probably regret.

Gavin Kilen (2025)

This was the first draft pick made under the Buster Posey-led front office and it seemed to foreshadow the Tony Vitello hiring because Kilen was drafted out of the University of Tennessse.

He’s been solid for the High-A Eugene Emeralds this season, hitting .281/.350/.462 with nine home runs and 64 runs batted in. We will see how he progresses but for now the Giants get a C grade because his future is unknown.

What will this year’s draft bring? The Giants have struggled drafting and developing players in recent years so they really need to start hitting on their first-round picks if they want to turn the franchise around.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow