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SF Giants lean on power-hitting position players on Day 2 of MLB draft

By Jeff Young |
2024 San Francisco Giants Spring Training
2024 San Francisco Giants Spring Training / Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/GettyImages
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The SF Giants took power-hitting outfielder James Tibbs III out of Florida State University on Sunday night. They continued that trend by taking position players with power with three of their next seven picks on Monday.

SF Giants lean on power-hitting position players on Day 2 of MLB draft

The Giants forfeited their second-and-third-round picks in the offseason after signing Matt Chapman and Blake Snell. Both had rejected a qualifying offer this past winter.

So, they only had one pick through the first two rounds on Sunday night and started Monday as they watched the third round go by without a pick.

No. 116 - OF Dakota Jordan

The Giants started the day by making one of the more interesting picks of the day in outfielder Dakota Jordan. The right-handed bat slashed .354/.459/.671 with 20 home runs, 72 RBI, and 57 runs in 290 plate appearances. He did tally 84 strikeouts, so there is some swing-and-miss inherent with his approach.

When Jordan connects, he makes loud contact. The ball jumps off of his bat thanks to elite bat speed and a 6-foot, 220-pound physique. He is both fast and strong.

While he is an above-average runner and an excellent athlete, he is not aggressive on the bases. Interestingly, the 21-year-old was ranked as the No. 34 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The pick carries a slot value of $624,080, but it is likely that the Giants will need to go overslot to sign the draft-eligible sophomore.

No. 149 - OF Jakob Christian

Similar to Jordan, Jakob Christian is an imposing presence in the batter's box with a 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame. He slashed .364/.460/.828 with 26 home runs, 67 RBI, and 59 runs in 235 plate appearances with the University of San Diego.

While he is coming off of a solid college season, he did slump to a .655 OPS in 49 plate appearances in the Cape Cod League last summer. There are questions about how he will hit against more advanced competition. His profile leans more in favor of power over hit.

In the field, Christian has a solid arm that should help him stick in right field. However, he has experience at first base as well. The slot value for the pick is $453,030.

No. 178 - 3B Robert Hipwell

Robert Hipwell is local to the Bay Area. He was born in Los Gatos and attended Santa Clara University for three seasons. He was in the midst of a solid 2023 campaign where he posted a .957 OPS in 86 plate appearances before he was suspended for PED use, causing him to miss the end of that season and the start of the 2024 season.

When he did return, the left-handed bat registered a .273/.442/.515 line with three home runs in 86 plate appearances. He had almost as many walks (18) at strikeouts (21). Similar to James Tibbs III, Hipwell controls the strike zone and rarely chases. Hipwell has an uppercut bat path, so he has no problem getting the ball in the air.

In the field, the 21-year-old is listed as a third baseman, but there are questions about where he will stick in the future. Moving to first base or left field are on the table. The slot value for this pick is $348,020.

SF Giants lean on power-hitting position players on Day 2 of MLB draft

No. 208 - P Greg Farone

It was not until the seventh round that the Giants finally took a pitcher when they selected southaw Greg Farone out of the University of Alabama. Farone posted a 5.02 ERA with 68 strikeouts against 24 walks in 71.2 innings this past season. He pitched in the SEC, so the competition level is about as advanced as it gets in college.

On the mound, the 22-year-old features a low-to-mid 90's fastball that he mixes in with a curveball, slider, and a changeup. Farone has an easy, repeatable delivery and is able to fill up the strike zone with all four of his offerings. The slot value for this pick is $272,020.

No. 238 - P Niko Mazza

The Giants selected right-handed pitcher Niko Mazza in the eighth round out of the University of Southern Mississippi. He is coming off of a year in which he tallied a 3.99 ERA with 95 strikeouts and 36 walks in 90.1 innings. He did show a noticeable improvement in his control while maintaining a healthy strikeout rate this season.

On the mound, he has a fasball that sits in the low 90's fastball with movement through the zone. He pairs this with a cutter and a changeup. The slot value for this pick is $218,600.

N. 268 - SS Zane Zielinski

The Giants did not draft a middle infielder until the ninth round, selecting Zane Zielinski out of the University of Illinois - Chicago. He posted a .363/.449/.583 line with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 268 plate appearances. The right-handed bat does not hit for a lot of power, but he makes contact at a decent rate and may even sell out his swing for contact at times. His hit tool will need to carry him as a pro.

Given that he is listed as a shortstop, there is a good chance that he can stick in the middle of the diamond. The slot value for this pick is $194,020.

No. 298 - P Cade Vernon

The last pick of the day by the Giants was pitcher Cade Vernon out of Murray State University. The righty pitcher posted a 4.67 ERA with 85 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 90.2 innings.

Vernon relies heavily on a quality slider that he pairs with a low 90's fastball. He mixes in an occasional curveball and changeup as well. He commands all four of his pitches in the zone but does not miss a ton of bats. The slot value for this pick is $182,060.

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