Belt signs

The updated Baseball America draft database now has Brandon Belt as being signed.

5 months ago sectionop92 32 comments 0 recs |

Comments

The BA draft blog says $200,000, about $25K above slot.

by Reddish on Aug 14, 2009 9:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Giants have signed Texas first baseman Brandon Belt for $200,000. His bonus comes in above MLB’s $173,700 recommendation for his draft slot (No. 147) and is tied for the third-highest in the fifth round this year.

Belt led the College World Series runner-up Longhorns in batting (.323) and hit eight homers in the spring. Scouts like his size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds), plate discipline and defense, though he doesn’t turn on balls consistently and will need to show more power. Belt had been drafted twice previously, in the 11th round out of high school by the Red Sox in 2006 (as a lefthanded pitcher) and in the same round out of San Jacinto (Texas) JC by the Braves in 2007.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 14, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoa... that's a surprise

he was the guy we thought was going to not sign, right?

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on Aug 14, 2009 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

he was always pretty certain to sign

by FluLikeSymptoms on Aug 14, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was some thought that we wanted him to switch to pitching and that he was dead-set against it.

Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: Fred "OBP and UZR, Dammit!" Lewis

by jcb9 on Aug 14, 2009 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that’s nothing that 200 grand won’t fix

by FluLikeSymptoms on Aug 14, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently not!

There was speculation about him here just the other day, though: http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2009/8/11/985918/matt-graham-signs-according-to#19559790

Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: Fred "OBP and UZR, Dammit!" Lewis

by jcb9 on Aug 14, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that I was the main one saying that Belt wouldn’t sign at this late date – FluLikeSymptoms had no doubt he would sign. I do find it hard to believe that he only signed for $200K, and only $26K over slot, at this late date. If that was all it took, then why couldn’t this contract have been signed and delivered 2 months ago, allowing Belt to have played 40 games at Scottsdale or S-K already? That small amount over slot wasn’t going to be a big deal with the commisioner’s office.

I wonder which side was playing hardball, of if Belt just wanted some time off before starting his pro career?

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Aug 14, 2009 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whose the white whale of this draft now? Assuming Wheeler and Joseph sign

Minor White > Ansel Adams

by say hey nation on Aug 14, 2009 9:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

probably Jonathan Walsh

by superk1ng on Aug 14, 2009 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

whats the story on him?

Minor White > Ansel Adams

by say hey nation on Aug 14, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

from Andy Seiler

18. Jonathan Walsh, OF, Coppell HS (TX), #537 overall, 6’2’’/208: I was one of those who were not surprised when the Giants called Walsh’s name as an outfielder on day two of the draft. As someone on my "most disappointing" list this spring, Walsh showed little of the potential he has with the glove behind the plate as a catcher, regularly struggling to reach even average pop times. His offense also struggled under the spotlight, and though he has enormous potential with the bat, too, it just wasn’t there. Whether it’s Draftitis or a larger problem, Walsh was just not on his game this spring. He still should have gone in the top ten rounds, and he’s not going to be signable in this range. This marks the beginning of the unsignable and organizational player run for the Giants in this draft. DOB: 11/14/90. Commitment: Texas.

we probably want to some of those other high schoolers from the later rounds, but it’s most likely not going to happen.

by superk1ng on Aug 14, 2009 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d like Diego Seastrunk and Randolph Oduber.

Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: Fred "OBP and UZR, Dammit!" Lewis

by jcb9 on Aug 14, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

me likey Otis son too

by wilriv21 on Aug 14, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The 2 mid-round college pitchers, Jason Walls and Mitch Mormann, would be very, very nice too.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Aug 14, 2009 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

same

And some Jamaine Cotton.

Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 14, 2009 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sweet adeline

what news!

by druncan on Aug 14, 2009 9:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Cool.

Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...

by rotorueter on Aug 14, 2009 9:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

c’mon Wheeler! c’mon Joseph!

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on Aug 14, 2009 9:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

whee now we just need Wheeler and Joseph and I’ll be pleased. I’m still shocked Graham signed, great job by the Giants

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Aug 14, 2009 9:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yea… Andy Seiler said that from the 18th Round down, the drafted players were either organizational guys or unsignable. If we get Wheeler and Joseph we’ll have signed all the players from 1-17. I wouldn’t mind seeing us open up the bank a little bit for one of those “unsignable” players, but overall, I’m pretty pleased with how things have gone so far.

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on Aug 14, 2009 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it’d be pretty cool if we got one or two of the “unsignables” but if we didn’t (and we did get Wheeler and Joseph), I wouldn’t complain.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Aug 14, 2009 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if they’re planning on moving him to pitcher or just keeping at 1B

by superk1ng on Aug 14, 2009 9:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BA draft profile

Though Texas won the Big 12 regular-season and conference championships and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA baseball tournament, it has a young team with few enticing 2009 draft prospects. Besides Wood, the only other Longhorn with a chance to go in the first 10 rounds is first baseman Brandon Belt. He led Texas with a .338 average and eight homers heading into the super-regionals, though scouts don’t love his set-up. He bats out of a deep crouch and cuts himself off, reducing his power. A disciplined lefthanded hitter with the size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) to drive the ball, he led Cape Cod League champion Harwich with five homers last summer. He uses more of an opposite-field approach and doesn’t turn on pitches consistently. He’s a good defensive first baseman with average speed. Belt has been drafted twice previously, in the 11th round out of high school by the Red Sox in 2006 (as a lefthanded pitcher) and in the same round out of San Jacinto JC by the Braves in 2007.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 14, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So perhaps a James Loney-type player?

Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...

by rotorueter on Aug 14, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's who I was thinking of, also

but hopefully with Ishi’s defense

by superk1ng on Aug 14, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Belt’s already a much better defender than Loney, but he needs to totally revamp his swing before he can even begin to be a hitter in Loney’s category. Right now he’s a lighter-hitting version of Ishi.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Aug 14, 2009 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs