Reviewing the San Francisco Giants' 2012 draft

Welcome back to our pre-draft look at past drafts. Last time we looked at the 2011 draft, which sure looks like a good draft now. In five years, it could look like the best draft in major-league history, or it could look like a total wasteland of squandered potential. It's still an incomplete.

So you probably don't have to be told that's exponentially true for the 2012 draft, which looks a little iffy right now, but is still very much an incomplete. It will probably not be the best draft in major-league history. (Don't be a grumpy Gus, though.) 

First pick: Chris Stratton, first round, #20 overall

The scuttlebutt is that the Giants really, really wanted Michael Wacha, who went to the Cardinals at #19. That would have been cool. I was a huge Marcus Stroman fan -- that is, I watched a two-minute video of him and fell in fake-scout love with him -- and that would have been cool. As is, Stratton still has a chance, even if he's scuffling a bit in the Cal League as a 23-year-old.

Best pick: Ty Blach, fifth round, #178 overall

Subject to change, of course, and there were several candidates. Blach's strikeouts were eaten by a grue this year, but he's still been oddly effective. He's walked 24 in 172 innings, which is borderline freaky for a minor leaguer. There are two kinds of Zito impersonators, fast Zito and slow Zito. It's a big argument in the Zito-impersonating community, which one is preferable. There's going to be a vote to see which one gets a postage stamp and everything. Blach is a fast Zito impersonator, throwing in the low 90s. Considering his command, that's a steal for #178.

Now let's all go out back and whistle for those strikeouts. Maybe they'll come back.

Best name: ?

Horrible draft. Nolan Long sounds vaguely dirty. But that can't be it, right? Shilo McCall sounds like something out of a Raymond Chandler novel, so that's probably the default winner. Really, though, one of the worst name drafts in Giants history. Try harder next time, fellas.

Other notable players

Mac Williamson is out for the season following Tommy John, but he's still one of the Giants' best (only) hitting prospects. Steven Okert took an in-season tumble down the draft boards while at Oklahoma, and the Giants look pretty cagey by swooping on him in the fourth round, as the lefty is doing quite well as a closer in San Jose. Matt Duffy is hitting .313/.371/.400 in Richmond, which translates to about .380/.498/.903 in another league, so even if he can't stick at shortstop, keep an eye on him.

Martin Agosta is temporarily out of order, though not officially, but he was an interesting prospect last year.

Breakdown

Junior college: 3
High school: 5
Four-year: 32

The Giants like college players. I’m not going to argue with them.