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For the fifth time this year, it’s time for a roundup of 2020 MLB mock drafts. The San Francisco Giants have the 13th pick in the first round this year (as well as two compensatory picks, and selections in each of the other four rounds).
With the draft sneaking up (it starts on June 10), this may be the final roundup of the year. Or we might do another one Wednesday morning. Let’s see what happens.
To find the link to the article for each mock, click on the player’s name. You can find the Fangraphs big board here.
Ian Smith, Prospects365
After mocking a different collegiate southpaw here in my previous mock, San Francisco is shocked to see a higher-rated lefty still on the board and pivots appropriately. Reid Detmers is a bulldog lefty who brings only an average fastball but pairs it with a plus-or-better curve that’s considered one of the best single pitches in this class. Control and command both show to be plus tools with a repeatable delivery. A fly ball-heavy pitcher in college will need to use that command to limit the big fly at the next level, and Oracle Park will be the perfect place to optimize his plan of attack.
Age: 20.9
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210
Fangraphs ranking: 10
Fangraphs FV: 45+
Fly ball heavy pitcher definitely figures to play well in San Francisco, though I can’t imagine that will really be a factor for Farhan Zaidi, Scott Harris and Co.
Baseball America
The Giants have been tied with the top high school catcher in the class, Tyler Soderstrom. That would be fun if only because of the regional connection—Soderstrom plays at Turlock (Calif.) High, which is just two hours away from Oracle Park. However, Cavalli’s name is being heavily mentioned in the 11-15 range.
Age: 21.8
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225
Fangraphs ranking: 17
Fangraphs FV: 45
A name that’s gaining momentum!
Eric Longenhagen, Fangraphs
Justin Foscue, 2B, Mississippi State
I think part of the reason so many high schoolers get mentioned on the phone in connection with the Giants is because they’re assessing signability in case someone falls to their next pick. Foscue is a model darling (he’s barely 21 and performed in the SEC for three years) similar to Will Wilson, who the club liked enough to trade for in the offseason.
Age: 21.3
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 201
Fangraphs ranking: 26
Fangraphs FV: 45
This is the first time I’ve seen Foscue mocked to the Giants, and I think the first time I’ve seen him mocked so high. It doesn’t really seem to be in line with every one else’s thinking of what the Giants will do, but Longenhagen’s logic is quite sound.
Jonathan Mayo, MLB Pipeline
Soderstrom’s name does come up here quite a bit, as does Hendrick’s, but right now, it feels like they’re leaning more toward the college arm.
Age: 21.8
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225
Fangraphs ranking: 17
Fangraphs FV: 45
It seems like the closer we get to the draft, the more people are switching their mocks to having the Giants select a college talent instead of a prep talent. We’ll see if that’s actually based on intel.
Mike Axisa, CBS Sports
Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock High School (California)
The Giants have two extra picks (Nos. 67 and 68) and a large bonus pool after losing Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith to free agency, giving them plenty of options. They can pay Abel or Bitsko like the top 10 pick their talent says they should be, or they could go the college route, and perhaps save bonus pool money for later. San Francisco has been connected to Soderstrom an awful lot the last few weeks, enough that I’m comfortable putting him here even though I imagine Abel or Bitsko would be awfully tempting. Our R.J. Anderson ranked Soderstrom as the No. 21 prospect in the draft class.
Age: 18.5
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210
Fangraphs ranking: 20
Fangraphs FV: 45
No player has been linked to the Giants as much as Soderstrom, whose dad was drafted 6th overall by San Francisco in the 1993 MLB Draft. Soderstrom hasn’t been mocked to the Giants as much in the latest mocks, but if you had to bet on who the Giants end up with, Soderstrom should probably be the pick.
Matt Weyrich, NBC Sports
Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee
His arm slot has earned him comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. Need I say more?
Age: 21
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 210
Fangraphs ranking: 22
Fangraphs FV: 45
Another college player, and another college pitcher! Very interesting. Though I hope that the Giants don’t draft him solely because his arm slot is similar to a franchise icon.
It seems that, two days out, there’s not too much consensus as to who the Giants will pick. Mocks are trending toward college arms, but that could be based more on wide-ranging industry intel than Giants specific intel.
We’ll find out soon enough!