Examining how the SF Giants actually got really good value in 2024 MLB Draft

Examining how the SF Giants actually got really good value in 2024 MLB Draft

Round 15: Evan Gray

Note: Gray signed with the Giants for $25,000.

Looks like I found my guy in this draft class. The Giants spent their 15th-round pick on the St. Louis University product. I really love funky relievers like Ryan Walker, Randy Rodriguez, Patrick Ruotolo, and William Kempner among others. Last year, I did not have that guy. Maybe Ryan Vanderhei, last year's tenth-rounder. He's pretty funky once there is footage of him available out of the backfields.

There is one knock against Gray, and it is that he is already 23 years old. However, we now know that age is just a number for pitchers. Anyone can cook, and Gray has the potential to carve some pine meat even if the tools are a bit old out of the gate.

Gray drives hard on his back leg, generating great extension and a lower-than-usual release height even though his release point is more of a true 3/4 slot. The way he loads on the mound reminds me of Cole Waites but with a slower tempo as Gray is more deliberate while Waites is more uptempo. He keeps his fingers on top of the ball, generating good life up in the zone with his low-90s fastball that touches 96 mph in his best days. His low-80s slider flashed plus this season according to Brian. He is a strike-thrower and a good enough athlete to think that it should continue in his late 20s.

Round 16: Tyler Switalski

The Giants selected the big West Virginia lefty with their 16th-round pick. Brian liked the prospect coming out of the draft. He is quite young as he just turned 21 last month and armed with a low-90s sinker in a starter's role but can get to 96-97 mph in shorter bursts. It does what a sinker usually does: not a true bat-misser but generates a good amount of groundballs. His changeup is his best secondary pitch where it can be nasty at times. I like how he taps the glove at the top of his leg kick to get himself into the rhythm as he drives forward on the mound. That gives him a natural and quite effortless motion. One issue about him is that he struggles to spin a breaking ball as his upper-70s slider does not bode much confidence.

Round 17: Hunter Dryden

Note: Dryden signed with the Giants for $50,000.

The Giants once again tapped into the D3 market and nabbed the Whitworth University pitcher with their 17th-round pick. He's had a good college career and has played in the MLB Draft League. For the prospects hailing from rather unheralded schools, the MLB Draft League is huge for their chances of getting drafted.

What he's shown in the Draft League is pretty interesting. He throws from an over-the-top slot with a motion that is similar to Mark Melancon. It is an iteration of his old pitching motion as he was throwing from a 3/4 slot with not much torso tilt. It will be interesting what the Kinatrax that the Giants facility has would say about Dryden's best mechanics moving forward. There is not much on his stuff so we'll learn about what he throws as a pro.

Round 18: Ryan Slater

Note: Slater signed with the Giants for $125,000.

Slater is drafted in the 18th round by the Giants and it looks like another good ball of clay to develop. Yes, the stats in the SEC do not look great, but he is a good mover and a strong strike-thrower with the potential to develop. Brian noted that his low-90s fastball has a bad shape and that might be the reason that his numbers all went to crap. He, however, can throw a mid-to-high-80s slider very well. It looks like it is a gyro slider with late but sharp dive, kind of like a good old Matt Cain slider. There is also a changeup in the mix but it kind of floats when it is heading towards the mitt. It seems like it is an opportunity for the Giants coaches to tweak his pitch mix with him throwing the slider more often to maximize his value.

Round 19: Ryan Ure

Out of all players drafted by the Giants this year, Ure is the pick to be the most likely to return to college. He's made plenty of noise when he popped 103* mph (it is actually in the 97 mph range). He missed the entire 2023 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery and he's still not in his best game shape this year. There is a chance that with a clean offseason, he's going to really take off next year. The pros of his signing are that a team like the Giants and their rehab facility will be better than what he will likely receive in college.

Taking a look at his numbers in the Cape Cod League this year, Ure predominantly throws a fastball that tops out at 97 mph, parking at 94 mph. He has a clean arm circle and throws from a true 3/4 arm slot. He throws his changeup a bit harder than his slider, sitting in the 85 mph range, while his slider is in the 83-85 mph range. He drives well on the mound giving his heater an extra tick of perceived velocity.

Round 20: Fernando Gonzalez

With their final selection, the Giants finally drafted a catcher. I thought that they would miss out on adding even more depth to the position. Brian noted that the Panamanian Georgia product has a shot of becoming a solid defensive backup who shall stick at the position with a solid all-around game in the squat. The offensive value will likely not amount to a lot in pro ball but having another body in the organization is only a good thing.