San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Plenty of New Additions
On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss all the new additions to the Giants’ farm system.
Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. The team was off on Thursday, but they certainly were busy. Between the amateur draft and some other acquisitions, there is plenty to talk about, so let’s get to it.
1 – Giants’ First Draft Pick
The Giants didn’t have a first-round pick in this year’s amateur draft, surrendering it to the Chicago White Sox after signing Jeff Samardzija, but they got a first-round talent with the 59th pick. They selected outfielder Bryan Reynolds, a junior from Vanderbilt.
College Numbers:
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In 206 games at Vanderbilt, Reynolds owns a .329/.413/.508 slash-line, and has hit 22 home runs and 58 doubles. He’s driven in 160 runs, and stolen 39 bases. In his junior season this year, he leads the Commodores with 13 home runs, 16 doubles, 49 walks, and a .461 OBP. He’s second with 74 hits and 57 runs batted in. He also played in the Cape Cod League in 2015, hitting .346 with eight RBI, and more walks (17) than strikeouts (14).
After his freshman year, Reynolds was named a First-Team Freshman All-American, and All-SEC Freshman. He’s also an intelligent young man, being named to the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll.
What the Experts are Saying:
ESPN’s Keith Law (Insider Required) had Reynolds as a first-round pick, going 30th to the Texas Rangers. He feels that Reynolds has the ability to stay in center field, saying he is “at least an average defender” there, and has “plus power”.
MLB.com’s Jim Callis had Reynolds going 31st overall to the New York Mets. Callis noted Reynolds’ propensity to strike out (174 strikeouts in 791 at-bats, 22 percent rate), but went on to remark that “he’s a switch-hitter with the chance for four average-or-better-tools.
John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall.com also noted Reynolds’ slightly-inflated strikeout rate, but said that he has a “keen batting eye and a refined swing”. He pointed out that Reynolds had “no problems” using wooden bats in the Cape Cod League, and “the consensus seems to be that [his power] is not the result of aluminum”.
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What the Scouts are Saying:
Giants’ Scouting Director John Barr said the team was “very happy” and “a little surprised” that Reynolds fell all the way to them at 59. Barr also feels that the center fielder will be able to remain in that position, and is a potential first, second, or third hitter in the lineup. He called Reynolds “a competitor”, and “a winner who really tries to get the most out of his ability”.
What his Former Teammate is Saying:
Tyler Beede was the Giants’ first-round pick in 2014, 14th overall, and spent one season as teammates with Reynolds. He took to Twitter to voice his opinion on the pick:
2 – New Signee
The Giants signed a familiar foe to a minor league deal on Thursday, picking up veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia. The 35-year-older has 10 years worth of big league experience, spending half of his career with a Giants’ divisional foe, the San Diego Padres. Should Denorfia make it to the big leagues with the Giants at some point this season, he will be plenty familiar with AT&T Park. He has played 32 games in San Francisco, and has had plenty of success against the Giants, with a .317 average in 73 games.
Denorfia signed a contract with the New York Yankees in Spring Training, but was released days before his March 31st opt-out, and has been a free agent since.
Besides San Diego, Denorfia has spent time in the major leagues with the Cincinnati Reds (2005-2006), the Oakland Athletics (2008-2009, the Seattle Mariners (2014), and Chicago Cubs (2015).
3 – Minor League Trade
The Giants completed a trade as well on Thursday (told ya, they were busy!), but no, it wasn’t for Andrew Miller or anyone else you were wishing for. The Giants and Cubs made a deal, bringing Shawon Dunston, Jr. to San Francisco in exchange for cash.
That name should be familiar to Giants’ fans, as his father, Shawon Dunston, Sr., spent 18 years as a major leaguers, including three separate stints with the Giants. He is currently an assistant coach with the Giants, acting as the eyes on replay reviews.
The younger Dunston was drafted by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2011 draft, and has had a slow road in the minor leagues, due in part to injuries. He’s played over 60 games in a season only once, with 96 played in 2014. This season, with High-A Myrtle Beach, Dunston has played 37 games, and is batting .219 with six doubles and four triples.
Next: Giants Morning Minute: Well-Time Home Runs
And that will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants start a three-game weekend series with the team chasing them in the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnny Cueto takes the hill for the Giants, opposed by Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw.