Last minute MLB Pipeline mock draft reaches consensus for SF Giants with No. 13 pick

Mock drafts are great because they vary widely, adding new ideas to a discussion. MLB Pipeline released its final mock draft this morning, with both Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis predicting that the SF Giants will take right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon with the No. 13 pick.

Last minute MLB Pipeline mock draft reaches consensus for SF Giants with No. 13 pick

Mayo put together a mock draft at the end of last week, suggesting that the Giants would take Witherspoon with the No. 13 pick. Callis agrees and expands on that point:

"This could be the floor for [Ike] Irish and the ceiling for other college bats such as Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill, Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston and Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette. Don’t rule out [Gavin] Fien."

Jim Callis

Witherspoon just finished a strong year with the University of Oklahoma. He posted a 2.65 ERA with 124 strikeouts and 23 walks in 95 innings. The right-handed pitcher also appeared briefly in the Cape Cod League last year, allowing one earned run with 10 strikeouts and zero walks in nine innings for the Chatham Anglers.

On the mound, the 20-year-old relies on a mid-90's four-seam fastball that gets plenty of carry and riding action through the zone. He mixes in a high 70's curveball that has 12-to-6 movement, and a power slider that sits in the mid-to-high 80's. Witherspoon will mix in a cutter and changeup as well.

Among the other names mentioned by Callis, Ike Irish is another name that has been mocked to the Giants. The left-handed bat posted a 1.179 OPS with 19 home runs and 58 RBI in 258 plate appearances for Auburn University. He was teammates with Witherspoon for Chatham last summer.

Marek Houston of Wake Forest University recorded a 1.055 OPS with 15 home runs and 66 RBI in 298 plate appearances this season. He has appeared primarily at shortstop in college.

Jace LaViolette had a 1.003 OPS with 18 home runs and 61 RBI in 262 plate appearances for Texas A&M University. He made 55 starts in center field this season.

There is a theme with this mock draft. The Giants appear to be targeting college players, particularly those from the SEC and ACC. The competition level in those conferences tends to be high, leading to many top picks adjusting relatively quickly to pro ball.

The Giants hold two picks later today. We have a breakdown of each pick they hold and an explanation of how the bonus pool system works. By the end of the day, the Giants hope that they have added a couple of players who can help them down the road.