We a Tool(e) and a Bocock. Sounds like some stiff competition is a head.

WAERZ WHEELER?

it seems that Baseball America has been slower than usual to update this year

per Schulman, which is considerably better than 1. Highest pick signed to date is Steven Liles at #7. Hopefully some of these 23 will see some action as short-season ball starts this weekend.

I saw an article that they signed their #8 pick and I just recall his name right now.

Well Salem-Keizer starts their season tomorrow and the AZL team starts Saturday so I guess they had to get these guys inked.

I haven’t been able to find an updated roster for the Arizona Giants, and as far as I can tell there are no draftees assigned above Salem. Here are the 12 signees that are currently on the Salem roster along with the round they were chosen, position, college (they’re all from the college ranks), and class year:

10. Jeremy Toole …. (P, BYU – Jr.)
11. John Eshleman …. (SS, San Jac. JC – Soph)
15. Kyle Vazquez …. (P, Frank. Pierce U. – Jr)
16. Ryan Cavan …. (SS, UCSB – Sr)
17. Chris Gloor (P, Quinnipiac U. – Sr)
25. Steven Taylor Rogers …. (P, Tulane – Jr)
32. Luke Anders …. (1B, Texas A&M – Jr)
35. Brandon Graves …. (P, Valdosta St. U. – Sr)
37. Ryan Lollis …. (OF, Mo. Columbia U. – Sr)
39. Kyle Henson …. (C, Un. Miss. – Sr)
41. Gary Moran …. (P, Sonoma St. – Sr)
46. Juan Martinez …. (SS, Oral Roberts – St)

We know at least 11 others have signed, so they’re probably in Arizona now. Unless they sign ASAP, I would guess all other signees will be assigned to AZ also. Although, based on last year, I would think that Dominguez, Stoffel, and Belt have an immediate shot at S-K if they sign soon. I am kind of surprised that Liles isn’t already in S-K – given his high draft round and 3 years of college experience.

Here are the 8 confirmed signees that are currently on the Giants’ AZ Rookie League roster along with the round they were chosen, position, college / HS, and class year:

8. Karl Benusa … (CF, Riverview HS, PA)
14. Bryan Salsbury … (P, U. South Fla. – JR)
26. Luis Munoz … (CF, P.R. Baseball Acad., Puerto Rico)
27. Kyle Mach … (3b, U. Mo. Col. – SR)
36. Ryan Scoma … (RF, UC Davis – SR)
38. Addison Proszeck … (P, Gonzaga – SR) …let the Prozac / Bocock jokes ensue!
40. Jonathan White … (LF, Vanderbilt – SR)
50. Kaohi Downing … (P, Pt. Loma U. – SR)

It has been reported that the following 3 are signed, but I can’t find them on any roster (maybe they’re injured or need some personal time before they report). This jibes with Schulman’s report that we signed 23 draftees – 12 in S-K, 8 in AZ, and 3 unassigned:

7. Nick Liles … (2B, West Car. U. – JR)
24. Alex Burg … (C, Wash. State – SR)
30. Craig Westcott … (P, Belhaven Coll. – SR)

There are 27 Giants’ draftees still unsigned. I’m assuming everybody knows the guys from the first 4 rounds (Z. Wheeler, T. Joseph, C. Dominguez, and J. Stoffel). That leaves 23 lesser-known names to consider. The vast majority of these will be hard to sign unless we really want to go over slot, because most are high schoolers with college committments or college juniors that still have the option to return for 1 more year. If they were picked in the later rounds they’ll most likely be thinking they can play 1 (the college juniors) or 2 (the high schoolers) years in college and vastly improve the round they get drafted in. On the other hand, many of these are draft and follow guys. The Giants will be monitoring their play in Summer leagues from now until Aug. 17th to see if they want to offer them over slot money. It will be interesting to see which ones the Giants truly target. Here they are:

5. Brandon Belt … (1B, U Texas – JR) ……. plays in the CWS starting Monday
6. Matt Graham … (P, Oak Ridge HS, TX) ……. committed to UNC
9. Evan Crawford … (CF, Indiana U. – JR)
12. Chris Heston … (P, ECU – JR)
13. Shawn Sanford … (P, U. South Fla. – JR)
18. Jonathan Walsh … (OF, Coppell HS, TX) ……. committed to U. Texas
19. Jason Walls … (P, Troy U. – JR)
20. Mitch Mormann … (P, Des Moines Com. Coll. – J2)
21. Zach Wasserman … (1B, Lake Shore HS, MI)
22. Andrew Biery … (3B, Kansas St. – SR) ……. should be easy sign if we want him
23. Adam Champion … (P, U. Ark. Little Rock – JR)
28. Jamaine Cotton … (P, West Okl. St. – JR)
29. Luke Demko … (P, U. Rhode Is. – SR) ……. should be easy sign if we want him
31. Diego Seastrunk … (C, Rice – JR)
33. Jake Dunning … (P, Indiana U. – JR)
34. Brandon Kirby … (CF, Lake Wales HS, FL)
42. Nicholas Schwaner … (3B, U. New Orleans – JR)
43. Matt Jansen … (P, Purdue – JR)
44. Joe Lewis … (1B, Pittsburg HS, CA)
45. Kyle Kramp … (P, Westfield HS, IN)
47. Mike Ness … (P, Duke – JR)
48. Randolph Oduber … (LF, West Okl. St. – J2)
49. Austin Goolsby … (C, Embry Riddle U. – JR) …….currently working in Obama admin.

FWIW, I predict we sign our #1 thru 3 picks (Wheeler, Joseph and Dominguez) and one of the 2 Texas high schoolers we drafted in the 6th and 18th round (Matt Graham & Jon Walsh). I have a strong feeling that both Jason Stoffel and Brandon Belt will roll the dice and return for their senior year at UA and UT, respectively. Stoffel, because he thinks he can improve his performance to get into the 1st or 2nd round next year; and Belt because he thinks he can improve his performance and have another shot at the national championship again next year. If the Giants can sign their #1 thru 3 picks and one of the TX high schoolers, then I don’t think they should go over slot to sign Stoffel. With all the quantity and quality of relief pitching in the Giants’ farm system now I don’t feel he is a top priority for us – I’d rather save the money for some international FA hitter that we can sign on July 2nd.