In a few minutes, 27th-round draft pick Jonathan Sanchez will take the mound for the Giants. About 15 hours ago, 24th-round pick Brian Wilson had the kind of save we’ve all been waiting for, striking out the top of the D-Backs order, including Justin Upton, on 12 pitches.
This year’s 24th and 27th rounders are Alexander Burg, a catcher from Washington State, and Kyle Mach, third baseman out of the U. of Missouri. Their names are about as significant to you right now as Wilson and Sanchez were in 2003 and 2004.
Wilson went so late because he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. It’s always good to keep an eye on guys whose stock fell because of injury or mediocre performance. One of the team’s hottest prospects at the moment is shortstop Brandon Crawford, whom they took in last year’s 4th round after a disappointing senior year at UCLA. He was a preseason All-American and potential first-rounder.
What’s my point? None, really, except that there’s always too much breathlessness around the first-round pick. Late the other night Damon Bruce on KNBR asked his listeners if the Giants’ first-round pick of a pitcher was a good or bad thing. Most said “bad,” because, you know, the Giants desperately need hitters right now.
First-rounders make the majors more than anyone else (I saw this recently but can’t find it at the moment — let me know if I’m wrong), but the success or failure of the first round pick isn’t the end-all be-all of a draft.
