The San Francisco Giants enter the 2011 MLB Draft with the No. 28 pick in the first round. After a dry spell in the 1990s, the Giants have done a great job in recent years promoting young talent from within the system. On offense, Buster Posey is the big pick and will be relied on heavily once again when he returns from the disabled list in 2012. Nate Schierholtz was a second round pick in the 2003 MLB Draft and has struggled to make an impact, but might be finding his way this season. In recent weeks the Giants have also called up Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford who were fifth and fourth round picks respectively.
The real draft depth gems are in the pitching. The current five-man rotation (Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Jonathan Sanchez, Ryan Vogelsong) were all drafted by the Giants. While Vogelsong was dealt away, he's back with the team so I'll give them some credit for that one. Throw in closer Brian Wilson and relief pitchers Sergio Romo and Dan Runzler, and the pitching is absolutely stacked with draft picks.
Here is a quick rundown of the Giants first round picks since the turn of the century, with their current team and brief statistics:
2010 - Gary Brown - A+ San Jose Giants - hitting .368/.437/.537
2009 - Zack Wheeler - A+ San Jose Giants - 4-2, 3.59 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
2008 - Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants - On disabled list with broken leg, torn ankle ligaments
2007 - Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants - 2-7, 3.42 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
- Tim Alderson - Traded to Pittsburgh Pirates in Freddy Sanchez deal - currently in AA for Pirates
- Wendell Fairley - A+ San Jose Giants - .258/.346/.329
2006 - Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants - 5-4, 2.59 ERA, 1.09 WHIP - he's been adequate
2003 - David Aardsma - Seattle Mariners - Traded by Giants to Cubs for Jerome Williams - currently Mariners closer, but on 15-day DL
2002 - Matt Cain - San Francisco Giants - 4-4, 3.64 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
2001 - Brad Hennessey - Houston Astros - Recently signed minor league contract
2000 - Noah Lowry - Out of baseball following rib removal surgery in 2009
We'll be here for the next three days covering the 2011 MLB Draft. For more in-depth discussion about the Giants head to McCovey Chronicles. For more general minor league and draft discussion, check out Minor League Ball and Baseball Nation.