as we approach the draft

1) This is a manner of opinion and different people will tell you different things. I don’t think you can make a comparison, personally. Even if you compare skill levels, there are two differences that make them apples and oranges:

A.) In any professional level, particularly the lower ones that most college players start in, they also play against high schoolers and foreign players, who are often of disparate ages and various levels of experience, which skew any talent generalizations.

B.) Any pro level plays 6-7 days a week, where as college baseball is primarily weekend only with much more limited travel. The wear and tear from pro ball often has a significant effect on how a player plays no matter his talent.

2.) There are some summer showcases which use wood bats, but I know of no leagues that use them that are for primarily high schoolers. (Some high schoolers are allowed to join some of the primarily college leagues, but most do the showcase circuit instead.)

3.) It’s hard to judge, especially because the Giants very recently changed scouting directors with John Barr. This’ll be Barr’s third draft, and people have liked his first two. Perhaps the most glowing review comes from mlbbonusbaby.com and writer Andy Seller:

John Barr is probably the most accomplished scouting director when you consider his age and experience levels. Only in his early-50s, Barr has as much high-level scouting experience as any scouting director in the entire game of baseball…That’s well deserved, and I consider Barr one of the best scouting directors in the game.

Of course, it’s hard to judge drafts from just two years out to figure out whether or not he’s made good choices. I would probably say the most positive point in Barr’s favor is Brandon Belt. Belt was a 5th round pick who people had little expectations of, and everyone considered him a project. Now, many will (rightfully) point out that he’s only in San Jose and doing well, and he definitely needs to do more to prove himself (and, in turn, the scouting and development around him), but a couple of things should be pointed out.

A.) Despite being an already raw college player, he made his pro debut all the way up in San Jose, and has succeeded despite less pro experience than his peers.

B.) His success that he is having has a lot to do with the changes the Giants have already made.

C.) (And most important) One of his biggest successes is plate discipline, which has not been a strength in the past for the system to help with.

Now, other people here may also criticize me for being a general optimist around the Giants system (and they aren’t entirely wrong), so do take into other viewpoints. But I would say that the Giants’ system isn’t as bad as their current reputation at developing hitters, and there’s evidence they are getting better, but they also aren’t good at it right now.

IMG Wooden Bat League presented by Body Armour