MLB Draft 2017: Talkin’ Giants with Christopher Crawford

The Major League Baseball Rule 4 Draft is on Monday, and it’s kind of a big deal. There isn’t a team in baseball that has conditioned its fans to care more about the draft, from Matt Cain through Christian Arroyo, with some Cy Youngs and an MVP in between.

Will this year’s draft include a Cy Young or MVP for the Giants? My guess is that Brendan McKay slips to #19, the Giants get him, and he becomes both. People in the industry disagree with me and are using scouting jargon like “an impossibly dumb theory,” but they just lack imagination.

We have someone in the industry to talk about the Giants and the 2017 Draft. Christopher Crawford, who has been prospecting on the internet for years and has an awful Twitter feed that you should follow out of spite, was gracious enough to take some of Roger’s questions again this year.

Last year, he suggested the Giants might take Heath Quinn. And what published on this site today? Roger’s enthusiastic ravings about Quinn. You should probably read the man’s words.

McCovey Chronicles
I've spent a decent amount of 2017 Minor Lines bemoaning the surprising lack of SP depth in the Giants system right now (not just prospects, but just org guys are lacking). This seems like it could be a decent draft to fill those coffers somewhat, don't you think? What kind of arms could be around at the Giants top couple of rounds?

Christopher Crawford
It's not a terrible (draft for pitchers), anyway. There should be a couple of solid college/prep arms around at pick 19. If Griffin Canning is still on the board, he'd be an excellent choice as a right-hander out of UCLA with two plus pitches and two average ones that he can throw for strikes. If he's off the board, they could look at Oregon's David Peterson; a southpaw who has seen his stock soar this year. There's also LSU's Alex Lange and Houston's Seth Romero, though both come with some risks (Lange on field, Romero off-field). Even though this isn't my favorite class, there's still plenty of talent to procure in the first few rounds.

McC
Who do you like best out of the HS arms that look like 1st rounders? I know Shane Baz has a lot of fans and he checks a few Giants boxes with his physicality.

Crawford
Well, assuming we're not counting Hunter Greene because, duh, my favorite prep arm is MacKenzie Gore. He's a left-hander with four above-average pitches, and there's some projection left. Baz is also very good because he has such a complete arsenal, and the noted physicality. I don't think any of them are lasting to the SF picks.

McC
The Giants drafted Brendon Little in the 36th round two years ago. As an organization, they do tend to like the re-draft (and I believe Little's Cape Cod performance could be an encouragement as well). Can you tell us a bit about Little's travels the last couple of years and where you see going off the board at this point?

Crawford
Little would have been a sophomore at UNC this year, but instead transferred to Manatee JC after impressing scouts in the Cape. Scouts have some concern about whether or not he can show that same stuff consistently, but he will bring a 70 fastball and 60 breaking-ball into games. If the change can be even average, he's a starter at the next level.

McC
You've linked the Giants to Logan Warmoth in your latest mock draft and as Grant notes, Warmoth has something of that Joe Panik feel, so that makes a good deal of sense. What are Warmoth's best strengths/tools and how does Warmoth profile for you at the big league level.

Crawford
There's a lot to like about Warmoth, and at this point, he may not even make it to SF's pick. He has two above-average tools, the hit and the speed. There's also some power in his bat as well. I think he probably ends up at second base, but it's not crazy to think he could play shortstop because of the range and solid footwork. He's a really nice player, with a high floor because of the acumen and feel for the barrel.

McC
One of my favorite picks of recent years (and looking like a good one) was Steven Duggar, which combined a something the Giants have done well (developing college bat who falls down the draft after lackluster college performance) with something they really need (exceptional physical tools and athleticism). Any candidates like that around this year: the toolsy guy who somehow hasn't performed up to the scouting grades, who might turn into a bargain?

Crawford
Maybe JJ Schwarz? This was a candidate to go 1-1, but he's really struggled since setting the world on fire as a freshman. He probably can't catch, but there's plus-plus power potential, and he's shown the makings of a quality hit tool at times. He's a reclamation project, but, the talent is there.

McC
I don't know why I waited so long to ask this but: who are the top Cape Cod League performers from last summer who will almost certainly be Giants by this time next month?

Crawford
The Cape was a long time ago, but I do remember Kevin Smith out of Maryland as a standout. He hasn't had as good of time this spring, but he'll show some offensive potential and might be able to stick at short. He could make sense in round three or four.

McC

I'm a little over fascinated by Puerto Rican SS Heliot Ramos. The Puerto Rican Academies are a well the Giants have been going to fairly regularly the last few years with mid round selections (Fargas, Rivera, Layer). Any chance they take a big swing with Ramos this year? And what's your read on him as a player?

Crawford
I don't think I'd take him in the first, but it wouldn't be a crazy reach. He's definitely not a shortstop, though. He has plus power, and he runs well enough that he might be able to stay in center, although corner outfield is the more likely landing spot. A long way away, but he could definitely be an impact bat.

McC
And as long as I'm indulging, my annual white whale is of course the toolsy HS OF. Has Jordan Adell hit himself out of the Giants range (19) with his tremendous spring? And if so, who represents the top of the HS OF group that might be obtainable (I'll go ahead an just remind myself here that the Giants basically haven't successfully drafted this phylum since Jack Clark).

Crawford
Ramos would be one, for sure. The other prep outfielders that could make sense in that range are Bubba Thompson, Quentin Holmes and Drew Waters. All are pretty similar, with the exception that Thompson has more power than the other two, but none would be a massive reach.

McC

It's a dark and gloomy time among Giants' fans so let's swing for the fences. What would be, for you, something like an ideal top of the draft for the Giants this year? Who might reasonably fall to them in the top two or three rounds who could represent the sort of extreme excitement we need right now?

Crawford
It's really hard to say, but if the Giants came out of the draft with, say, Canning in round one, Waters in round two and someone like Jake Thompson in round three, that'd be pretty good.

McC
Lastly, a quick look back. What's your "one year later" assessment of the 2016 draft? I know Reynolds has had a surprisingly rough start to his Cal League campaign (and Matt Krook has had a less surprisingly rough start to a challenging assignment) and Heath Quinn's been sidelined so far with I believe a hamate bone break. But what stands out to you about the class at this point?

Crawford
I think it's still a pretty good group. The Krook thing was a shot in the dark, and so far it hasn't worked out, but give it time, it probably still won't work out but it might (#optimism). Reynolds has been outstanding lately, as has Quinn. The Giants system is not good, but this could be a nice starting block.

Thanks for Christopher Crawford for taking the time to answer Roger’s questions! (I’m still in the tank for Warmoth, but only because I’ve already recorded a Pantera parody in his honor.)