MLB Pipeline mock draft has SF Giants selecting Maryland INF Matt Shaw

In MLB Draft expert Jim Callis' first mock draft of the year, he predicted the SF Giants will select offensive-minded infielder Matt Shaw.

The SF Giants will make the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft this summer. As college and high school baseball seasons around the country wind down, analysts are beginning to get a sense of how the event will play out. In what is sure to be the first of many mock drafts over the coming months, Jim Callis released his first mock draft for MLB Pipeline. He had the Giants selecting Maryland infielder Matt Shaw.

Infielder Matt Shaw stands in the batter's box during the 2022 Cape Cod League :: Christine Peterson/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK

"Even if he probably isn't a big league shortstop, the Cape Cod League MVP has hitting ability, power, at least solid speed and some Ian Happ parallels," Callis wrote about Shaw. It's easy to see why he picked the young infielder for the Giants as well. Shaw has one of the best hit tools in this year's draft class.

Shaw has been an impactful bat since his first season on campus at Maryland back in 2021. Last year at the Cape Cod League, an elite amateur baseball league frequented by top draft prospects, Shaw hit .360/.432/.574 with 10 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in 36 games with solid walk (11.6%) and strikeout (23.2%) rates.

While Shaw has a career OPS north of 1.000 at Maryland, he has taken his performance to another level this season. Through 46 games this year, Shaw is hitting .353/.477/.726 with 15 doubles and 18 home runs, alongside more walks (39) than strikeouts (33) in 237 plate appearances.

The biggest question facing Shaw's future is on the defensive side of things. As Callis mentioned, almost all scouts believe he has no future at shortstop, his primary position up to this point in his career. He has played all over the diamond, with experience at every infield and outfield position except pitcher and catcher. However, some evaluators doubt if he will be able to be a league-average defensive player at any position. If he can reach his offensive potential, that will not be a problem. However, the defensive concerns put a lot of pressure on his bat.

Readers may remember an intriguing two-way player named Paul Skenes, who was projected to the Giants in a way-too-early mock draft from late last year. However, Skenes has gone on to be one of the best pitchers in college baseball this year and has emerged as a consensus top-five (possibly top-three) prospect in the class.

The SF Giants still have more than two months until the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, which is scheduled for July 9th. Stay tuned to Giants Baseball Insider for the latest updates on prospects tied to the team.