The San Francisco Giants own the No. 18 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft this coming Monday and signs point to the organization taking a pitcher with their first-round selection. Ashe Russell, Mike Nikorak and Nolan Watson remain possibilities at this point.
ESPN Insider Keith Law released his third mock draft on Thursday, which means only one more remains until the draft kicks off on Monday night. There have been numerous changes throughout Law's first three mocks, but there has been one constant involving the San Francisco Giants - they've been projected to draft a starting pitcher.
First it was right-hander Jon Harris out of Missouri State. Here are his stats from this past season:
8-1 with a 1.85 ERA, 1.037 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 14 starts (97 1/3 innings)
Next came high school righty Mike Nikorak, who is also projected to go to the Giants by Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs. Here are his numbers from his latest season with Stroudsburg High School in Pennsylvania:
2-1 with a 1.82 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings
And finally, Law has the Giants going after another high school right-hander: Ashe Russell from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. Check out his 2015 season:
8-1 with a 0.88 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 49 innings
Baseball America's latest mock has the Giants snagging right-hander Nolan Watson out of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. Here are his stats:
6-1 with a 0.68 ERA with 81 strikeouts in nine starts (51 1/3 innings)
Law backs up San Francisco's interest in such players based on conversations with other insiders.
"I hear the Giants being primarily interested in prep arms -- Russell, Mike Nikorak, Nolan Watson (because his dad is friends with the Giants' area scout there ... that's not a good reason) and Harris," he wrote.
Other high school pitchers that are projected to go in the first round include Donny Everett (Clarksville High School in Tennessee), Juan Hillman (Olympia High School in Florida), Jacob Nix (IMG Academy in Florida) and Kolby Allard (San Clemente High School in California).
If you're a Giants fan, keep an eye on all of these names on Monday night during the MLB Draft.
