SF Giants 2025 top pick earns California League Player of the Week, July 6-12

The 2026 MLB draft is now in the rearview mirror, but a top 2025 SF Giants pick is quietly making a good impression. According to a team announcement, Lorenzo Meola earned California League Player of the Week honors.

The Giants drafted Meola in the fourth round of last year’s draft out of Stetson University. The Giants scouted a few schools heavily last year, including Stetson University. A few rounds later, the Giants selected Meola’s teammate, Isaiah Barkett, in the 10th round. Of course, the Giants also selected three players from Northeastern University.

The Giants did not select more than one player from any school in 2026. That said, they continued to have a strong scouting presence in the Southeast and Northeast. Four of their first five picks came from those regions. The club’s No. 4 pick, Jackson Flora, was the lone exception.

SF Giants prospect Lorenzo Meola has gotten better as the season has progressed

When the Giants drafted Meola, he was viewed as a glove-first infielder with swing-and-miss concerns and some power upside. The right-handed bat got off to a slow start, posting a .592 OPS in 100 plate appearances through the first month of the year. Since then, he has put up an .865 OPS in 244 plate appearances. The type of improvement in a season is usually a good indicator of growth and development.

Overall, Meola has recorded a .787 OPS with nine home runs and 45 RBI in 344 plate appearances. This includes a relatively high 26.5 percent strikeout rate. However, Meola has been able to impact the game on all sides of the ball.

The San Jose Giants faced off against the Visalia Rawhide in a six-game series right before the All-Star break. They won four of those games to take the series.

Meola played a big role in that series win. He tallied 11 hits, including four doubles and a home run, with eight RBI in 24 at-bats. He also drew six walks, so he was on base a lot against Visalia.

In the field, the 22-year-old shortstop is a rangy infielder with smooth motions and a strong arm. He has the tools to stick at shortstop, but may move into a super-utility role due to the number of shortstops they have coming up through the system.

In fact, that was one of the positions they did not add in this year’s draft. However, it was not the only position.

San Jose is in the midst of another successful season. They have a 53-34 record while clinching a first-half title. They have already stamped a ticket to the playoffs. San Jose's roster will look a bit different by the end of the year, as the incoming draft class and the end of the Arizona Complex League season should lead to a lot of player movement.

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