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5 of the most entertaining draft picks the SF Giants could make in the MLB draft

Let's focus less on the best fit or all-around player for the SF Giants and focus more on who would be the most entertaining regardless of fit.

By Jacob Taylor |
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The SF Giants have the 13th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Mock drafts are focusing on the best fit and/or the prospect with the highest chance of success for the Giants. Let's ignore all that and pretend like every prospect that gets drafted will work out. If that's the case, here are the prospects that would provide the most entertainment value.

5 of the most entertaining draft picks the SF Giants could make in the MLB draft

The Giants do need to make their first-round pick count. Both Matt Chapman and Blake Snell rejected qualifying offers in the offseason, meaning that the Giants lost a draft pick apiece with each signing. They forfeited their second-round pick with Chapman and the third-round pick following the Snell addition.

They pick in the first round and then again in the fourth round. Not only that, but they lose the draft pool money associated with the picks they gave up. This is why they have one of the lowest bonus pools this year.

1. 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone

Pure fun. That is what I would call Jac Caglianone. The 6-5, 245-pound, 21-year-old has hit 66 home runs over the last two seasons with the Florida Gators and manages 93-97 from the left side off the mound. He walked 53 times and only struck out 25 times across 302 plate appearances. His ERA numbers aren't fantastic but a solid 10.2 SO/9 combined with a 5.9 BB/9 outlines his incredible ability. He did all that while facing some of the toughest competition in college baseball in the SEC. The perfect world sees Calgianone starting at 1B for the Giants where he regularly its tanks into McCovey Cove and is their primary closer. He oozes entertainment value.

2. OF Slade Caldwell

Slade Caldwell currently measures at 5-6, 175 pounds which would tie him with Jose Altuve for the smallest player in MLB. It wouldn't just be fun because of the size. According to Keith Law of the Athletic (subscription required), "he'd be a top-15 pick for sure" if he was larger. The big question is if he will hit the ball hard enough to be able to stick at the big league level. Ignoring that, imagine Altuve but as a plus centerfielder hitting for a high average and some pop.

5 of the most entertaining draft picks the SF Giants could make in the MLB draft

3. RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje

You don't see BHP very often. Not since Pat Venditte had a brief spell as a reliever for the Giants. Cijntje is nothing like Venditte. The 5-11, 200-pound, 21-year-old is one of the best switch pitchers the world has ever seen. He tops out at 99 mph from the right side and 95 mph from the left. In 2024, he had a 3.67 ERA with only 30 walks and 113 strikeouts in 90.2 IP. Talk about fun. Having a hard throwing, dynamic reliever hit the mid to high 90s with both arms as he strikes out the world is something out of a video game or science fiction and I want to see it so bad,

4. SS/OF Kellon Lindsey

I have the need and Kellon Lindsey has the speed. The Hardee HS product stands a 6 ft tall and weighs 175 pounds and is one of the fastest people you will ever see on a baseball diamond. The Trea Turner comparisons have begun with Lindsey being viewed as elite speed from the right side with a solid approach but who cares about the hitting (obviously, everyone) look how fluid he is. He looks like running water became a person and I am itching to see what that looks like at the big league level.

5 of the most entertaining draft picks the SF Giants could make in the MLB draft

5. LHP/OF Cam Caminiti

You read that twice didn't you? No, you didn't travel back in time to 1984 and are watching the Houston Astros make their 3rd round selection. Cam Caminiti is the cousin of the late Padres star third baseman Ken Caminiti. The pedigree isn't the only fun that's happening here. Cam Caminiti is a Saguaro HS product who tops out at 97 from the left side with decent secondary stuff and is listed as an OF in addition to his pitching prowess.

Standing at 6-2 and weighing 205 pounds as a high school senior gives him a strong foundation to start with, as does his star genes. Ken Caminiti had a career .839 OPS against the Giants during his Padres tenure, good for a 111 OPS+. All these years the Giants have the opportunity to add one of Caminiti's relatives to fortify the rotation for years to come.

There has been a lot of substance connecting the Giants to Caminiti leading up to the draft in July.

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