MLB Pipeline's latest mock draft has SF Giants taking high school pitcher with second pick

The MLB draft is less than two weeks away. On Friday, MLB Pipeline published its latest mock draft, with the SF Giants taking prep pitcher Brody Bumila out of Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Massachusetts, with the No. 29 pick.

The draft begins with the first four rounds on July 11. The final 16 rounds will take place on the following day. We will have all the draft coverage as it happens.

The Giants hold 21 selections, including the No. 29 pick. They acquired that pick when they traded Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians. Of course, they also hold the No. 4 and No. 55 picks. The Giants hope and need this to be a foundational draft.

While they lucked into the No. 4 pick this year, luck will not be on their side next year. Despite having one of the worst records in baseball, the Giants will not be eligible to pick within the top-10 selections.

The SF Giants will have a chance to select another top player later in the first round

They have to make that pick count, along with the other top picks they hold. Most mock drafts have the Giants taking pitcher Jackson Flora out of UC Santa Barbara or prep infielder Jacob Lombard out of Gulliver Preparatory School with the No. 4 pick. The early mock drafts had them taking Flora, but there has been plenty of informed speculation connecting them to Lombard lately. MLB Pipeline's most recent mock draft is no different in that regard.

As soon as the Giants make that pick, the focus will shift to who they will take later in the first round. The No. 29 pick was originally a compensatory pick for the Guardians. While draft picks generally cannot be traded in baseball, compensatory picks are an exception.

The Giants acquired that pick, along with the $3.2 million slot value. The additional bonus pool money gives the Giants the flexibility to get creative. More than likely, they can use one of their top picks on an overslot player who slides in the draft due to signability concerns. That happens every year.

MLB Pipeline predicts that the Giants will take left-handed pitcher Brody Bumila with the No. 29 pick. Can you remember the last time the Giants took a high school lefty in the first round? I bet you can. That would be Madison Bumgarner out of South Caldwell High School in 2007, and that worked out okay.

MLB Pipeline has Bumila ranked as the No. 23 player in this year's draft. The Giants would have to sway him from his commitment to the University of Texas. Brumila already has an advanced pitch mix for someone his age. This includes a premium fastball.

"All discussions about Bumila start with his elite fastball. Not only can he crank it up to over 100 mph, but Bumila’s extension and low release height are outliers, creating 19-20 inches of inverted vertical break...he does have a decent slider and changeup"

MLB Pipeline on Brody Bumila

The Giants are lighter on pitching depth in the farm system. Teams do not draft for need in baseball, given the steep development curve relative to other sports. That said, if they can address a need while picking a high-upside pitcher, that would be a good way to balance the farm system.

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