Day 3 is where the scouts really shine! Senior Scouting Director Michael Holmes emphasized in a zoom call with media that a big part of his job is being a good listener to scouts he has out in the field, and to be able to hear real conviction and belief in players’ abilities when it’s presented to him.
This is an area of the draft where the Giants have found some real gems — in Holmes’ time running the draft and earlier (and it’s important to point out that there is a ton of continuity amongst the Giants’ amateur scouting staff going back to the “previous regime”). Ryan Walker was a 31st round pick in 2018. Cole Waites came from the Day 3 haul (as did Nick Avila, whom I believe will join Waites as a big leaguer some day). Landen Roupp and Hunter Dula were Day 3 guys. It’s a great day for the Area Scouts to really present their work, and provide opportunities for success to a lot of hungry athletes.
Holmes was thrilled that the club was able to come out of the draft with three catchers (two of whom hit left-handed) and five left-handed pitchers — which has been an area of some thinness in the org in recent years. Holmes also expressed his belief that the Giants will sign all 21 of the players they drafted this year — which would be a first (outside of the seven player 2020 draft).
So let’s take a brief (hopefully!) twirl through the Day 3 haul.
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