Giants Draft Organization Report

Sticking With What They Know

By Andy Baggarly
June 8, 2007

Jim Callis' Quick Take

The Giants got huge ceiling in the first round with North Carolina high school lefty Madison Bumgarner, Arizona prep righty Tim Alderson and Mississippi prep outfielder Wendell Fairley. San Diego high school second baseman Nick Nooan, their supplemental first-rounder, can really hit. It looks like they overdrafted some players to save money afterward, but hard to argue with the top four choices.

SAN FRANCISCO--If there's one thing the Giants know, it's pitching. When they have spent first-round choices on pitchers over the years, they seldom missed.

So big things are expected of lefthander Madison Bumgarner and righthander Tim Alderson, two prep pitchers who went to the Giants with the 10th and 22nd overall picks.

The Giants had a third first-rounder and used the 29th overall choice to take prep outfielder Wendell Fairley, a two-sport athlete who was recruited to play football at Louisiana State and Florida.

If Fairley hits, he could be a major leaguer along the lines of the Devil Rays' Carl Crawford. Fairley's background is similar to current Giants outfielder Fred Lewis, another Mississippi native and two-sport star whom the club took in the second round of the 2002 draft.

The Giants also had three supplemental first-round picks and took prep second baseman Nick Noonan (32nd overall), Oklahoma catcher Jackson Williams (43rd) and prep shortstop Charlie Culberson (51st).

The draft was heavy on high school talent and general manager Brian Sabean said the club didn't have to do much last minute scrambling.

"Not only did we get what we felt were the best people available in each round, but we got talent across the board," Sabean said. "It's a pretty diverse group. Our board was in the right shape and we had guys in the right spots."

The Giants like what director of player personnel Dick Tidrow calls "big equipment" pitchers, and their first two draft choices certainly fit the bill. Bumgarner, who is from Hudson, N.C., is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound lefty who throws from a low three-quarters arm slot.

Bumgarner signed a letter of intent to play for North Carolina, but the Giants were confident he would sign a contract. They had the same feeling about Alderson, a 6-foot-6, 217-pounder from Horizon High in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Alderson struck out 110 and walked just four in his senior year, leading the Giants to believe he can move fast through the system. They plan to use him as a starting pitcher, though some scouts believe his herky-jerky delivery could lead to a relief role.

Alderson signed a letter of intent to play at Oregon State but the situation with the Giants is too perfect. He played his high school playoff games at Scottsdale Stadium, the Giants' spring training headquarters.

The Giants believe Alderson and Bumgarner could move fast, given their exceptional command. They hadn't taken a prep pitcher in the first round since Matt Cain in 2002. In recent years, they've also spent first-round choices on Noah Lowry, Brad Hennessey and Boof Bonser--all solid major league contributors.

Fairley signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Southern Mississippi, but said he planned to sign with the Giants.