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We won't hit every mock draft for the Giants in 2014, but we'll endeavor to bring you the picks of the heavy hitters. Baseball America's mock draft had the Giants going with Vanderbilt right-hander Tyler Beede. Let's see what ESPN's Keith Law has to say:
14. Grant Holmes ... SCHOOL: Conway (S.C.) HS
HT: 6-2WT: 200 POS: RHP
There's more analysis for subscribers and a profile of Holmes here for subscribers. The short of it: Holmes is kind of short. He's 6'2", so he could sneak me through airport security, but he's not the prototypical first-round pick, at least for a high school pitcher.
According to Law, Holmes sits in the low-90s with the ability to go mid-90s, with one of the best curveballs in his class. Here's what Minor League Ball had to say about him:
His fastball is already impressive sitting 91-94 but can bump it up to 96. His fastball doesn't have a lot of movement but occasionally runs down and in to right handed hitters. His easy delivery and arm slot should allow him to manipulate the ball more with time. It's a great pitch and one of the best fastballs in the draft.
Holmes has an excellent power curveball as well. It's arguably his best pitch and it is a big league average pitch now with the potential to be a plus-plus pitch. It has tight spin and good depth at 82-85 MPH. The velocity will make many say it's a slider but there is very little horizontal movement to it. It's just a hard downer curveball and he delivers it with exceptional skill.
Sold. Video?
Not much about the curve in there, but I do enjoy the pitch at about 0:40. The heck is that kid supposed to do with that?
Law also mentions East Carolina right-hander Jeff Hoffman and high school outfielder Monte Harrison as players of interest for the Giants. Considering the Giants' recent history of high school outfielders in the draft -- Chili Davis was the last good one, and I wish that were a funny gag -- I'd be a bit more comfortable with the young arm. Holmes sounds as good as anyone who should be there at #14.
I'll defer to the experts, of course. Because Beau Mills.