SF Giants late 2025 MLB Draft selection brings crazy attribute to organization

The MLB draft is now in the rearview mirror. However, the SF Giants made a fascinating selection in the ninth round by drafting pitcher Reid Worley out of Cherokee High School in Canton, Georgia.

SF Giants late 2025 MLB Draft selection brings crazy attribute to organization

It was the first high school selection the Giants made in the draft. Worley has a commitment Kennesaw State, so the Giants will need to sway him from his college commitment to sign.

That could take an overslot signing. The No. 266 pick carries a slot value of $204,400. The Giants look like they should be able to generate enough savings in the earlier rounds to reallocate some portion of that if they desire. More often than not, both team and payer have a good understanding of what it will take to sign.

There are hardly any surprises with players not signing in the first 10 rounds. In fact, the overwhelming majority of them do sign. Every year, there are one or two amateur players who do not sign, but that is very much the exception.

With Worley, the Giants get a prep arm with a unique characteristic. He shared with David Alder of MLB.Com the grip he uses to throw his breaking ball. As Adler notes, it is a combination of a knuckle curve and a slider with spin rates above 3,000 RPM.

The spin rate is part of what makes the slider a unicorn pitch. There are only a handful of major league pitchers who throw a breaking ball with that type of spin rate.

Worley showcased the pitch in front of observers. It has a slider tilt with late and unpredictable movement, making it hard for the catcher to receive it.

On the mound, Worley throws from a three-quarters arm slot from the right side. He flashes a low 90's four-seam fastball that has some late, riding movement up in the zone. His slider sits in the low-to-mid 80's, and he has a changeup that sits in the mid 80's.

The velocity difference between the fastball and changeup is not quite large enough to be a functional pitch, but he is still relatively raw.

Worley worked as a starter in high school. The development of a third pitch will be what influences his long-term role. At the moment, he has a standout pitch that the Giants hope they can develop around.