Pair of 2025 top picks headline 2026 roster for SF Giants High-A affiliate

Gavin Kilen and Trevor Cohen were the SF Giants top two picks in the 2025 draft. They will share the field to start the 2026 season, as they headline the Eugene Emeralds' Opening Day roster.

Pair of 2025 top picks headline 2026 roster for SF Giants High-A affiliate

The Emeralds take on the Hillsboro Hops at home later today for a three-game series. They will then go on the road for a six-game series against the Vancouver Canadians. While major league teams typically face off in three-game series, minor league teams spend all week against one opponent to minimize travel time.

Kilen was selected with the No. 13 pick out of the University of Tennessee. He earned a signing bonus of $5.2 million, and this began an influx of people from that school. Of course, the most notable addition is new Giants manager Tony Vitello.

Cohen was selected in the third round, but did not appear on the top prospect boards. That said, there has been plenty of buzz for him heading into this season.

The left-handed bat registered na .840 OPS with one home run and 15 RBI in 130 plate appearances for San Jose Giants toward the end of last season. He has excellent contact skills, speed, and the potential to stick in center field.

On the other hand, Kilen only got into 10 games with San Jose before his season came to an end. He put up a 1.112 OPS with 15 home runs and 46 RBI in 245 plate appearances during his final college season. The left-handed bat has a good blend of contact skills and plate discipline, along with developing power. The Giants drafted him as a shortstop and their initial plan is to keep him at that position.

The lineup will also feature Dakota Jordan and Carlos Gutierrez. Both outfielders made an impact with San Jose in 2025. Jordan fell just shy of the Triple Crown in the California League, and he has been picked as a sleeper pospect to crack top-100 lists soon enough.

Gutierrez got off to a blistering start but finished the season on the injured list. He slashed .351/.445/.452 (150 wRC+) with two home runs, 30 RBI, and 60 runs in 293 plate appearances.

On the pitching side, Luis De La Torre, Gerelmi Maldonado, and Yunior Marte will be some interesting names to follow. De La Torre is still relatively new to pitching, and he has gotten better as his career has progressed. Given that he is eligible for the Rule 5 pick next offseason, the Giants could be aggressive with his development if he performs.