SF Giants mock draft recap: Experts predict their first-round pick

With the 2023 MLB Draft less than a month away, what prospects are experts currently predicting the SF Giants to target?

The 2023 MLB Draft is less than a month away, which means experts from around the industry are beginning to produce mock drafts. The SF Giants are in a great position to improve their farm system with the 16th overall pick in the draft. They will also have a compensatory draft pick between the second and third rounds because of Carlos Rodón's departure in free agency last offseason. While no one will know who the Giants will pick until Day 1 of the draft on July 9th, here's a look at the prospects that experts are tying to the team.

Pitcher Bryce Eldridge during the Perfect Game All-American Classic game. (2022) / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Baseball America: Walker Martin, SS (Eaton High School)

The Giants have been tied to a few players at this spot, and it has mostly been hitters that I’ve heard about. One is Stanford third baseman Tommy Troy, but another is Walker Martin, who just turned in one of the loudest high school seasons in the country. He was among the nation’s leaders in home runs, and yes he plays in Colorado where the ball flies just a bit better, but he is also a tremendous athlete with a clean lefthanded swing, good speed and a natural ability to use all fields. Bryce Eldridge could be another fit here.

The Giants have yet to select a high school player in the first or second round of the draft since Farhan Zaidi became the team's president of baseball operations. However, Baseball America is one of several publications that has tied the Giants to toolsy Colorado-prep star Walker Martin. Martin is an Arkansas commit with big-time power and plenty of athleticism. In fact, Martin was not as practiced in baseball because he starred at quarterback in high school. While some scouts think he might not be able to stick at shortstop, he has the offensive potential to be an everyday player at another spot.

Still, Stanford's Tommy Troy (more on him later) seems like a player who absolutely fits the Giants draft tendencies under Zaidi. Still, of the three prospects mentioned, Bryce Eldridge might be the most fun. Eldridge is a 6'7'' prep prospect with legitimate two-way potential. He's considered a better prospect as a pitcher than a hitter with a mid-90s fastball and a slider that has flashed plus potential. Nevertheless, after adding Reggie Crawford's untapped potential last year, it's fun to think about another two-way talent entering the system.

Maryland's Matt Shaw attempts to field a ball during a game against Iowa. (2023) :: Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

MLB Pipeline: Matt Shaw INF (Maryland)

The Giants are prioritizing bats unless Lowder or Dollander somehow drops to them. Shaw and Troy may have moved ahead of Gonzalez for many clubs, and Taylor and Bradfield also could be in San Francisco's mix. High school candidates include Houck, Miller and Eldridge.

MLB's official website has the Giants zeroed in on college and prep hitters assuming a top pitcher like Rhett Lowder or Chase Dollander (who are both expected to be top-10 picks) does not fall to them. Troy and Eldridge all come up once again here, but MLB Pipeline tabs Maryland infielder Matt Shaw. Shaw has been one of the best hitters in college baseball since arriving on campus in 2021 and crushed the Cape Cod League last summer. However, Shaw's ceiling is limited by his defensive struggles. He's played all over the field but seems unlikely to stick at shortstop and will probably be limited to second base or left field.

Pipeline seems more focused on college bats than high schoolers for the Giants. Vanderbilt's speedy center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. is mentioned. He has true 80-grade speed, elite defensive potential in center field, and solid bat-to-ball skills. Ole Miss infielder Jacob Gonzalez and TCU third baseman Brayden Taylor are also mentioned. They both have advanced feels for the strike zone and swing decisions but have struggled to tap into their power potential.

As for high school prospects, pipeline also mentioned Colin Houck (more on him later) and Aidan Miller. Miller is a power-first corner bat prospect who is already generating elite exit velocities as a teenager. From Florida, Miller is currently committed to Arkansas.

Prospects Live: Colin Houck, SS (Parkview HS)

A standout performer at East Coast Pro, Colin Houck has ridden an eight month wave of momentum that takes him to San Francisco at 16. A two sport star (QB1 and starting shortstop) at Parkview HS in Lilburn, GA, Houck has above average to plus physical tools across the board and gets rave reviews for his makeup. With a prototypical body and plus athleticism, he is expected to stick at shortstop and has taken off as a hitter after committing primarily to baseball this past summer. While the Giants have traditionally leaned towards college players under Farhan Zaidi, it's getting hard to see Houck slipping past this spot.

The last prospect to cover, Prospects Live already gave an excellent rundown of Colin Houck as a prospect. If the Giants are going to take a high school prospect in the first round, a player with Houck's combination of tools and makeup sure seems like enough to potentially get the front office to break from their usual trends.

Stanford DH Tommy Troy singles against Arkansas at Charles Schwab Field. (2022) / Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN: Tommy Troy, 3B (Stanford)

This is the high-water mark for polarizing Colorado prep shortstop Walker Martin, who is likely to get picked in the 20s or early 30s. The Giants have leaned toward college players with high picks under this regime, so I have them grabbing local boy Troy, who should go in this range anyway.

ESPN also tied the Giants to Martin, adding some more context that he is expected to be taken later in the first round. The Giants have liked to go under slot with their top pick to allow them to grab a higher upside prospect later in the draft. So it seems like they could be eyeing Martin as a player to select with the 16th overall pick for slot money in line with the 20-25th overall pick. However, given San Francisco's tendencies under Zaidi, ESPN has them nabbing Troy.

Troy is a NorCal product who grew up in Los Gatos before starring at Stanford. Troy's hit tool is what makes him a first-round prospect. He's always had a good approach and consistently squared up opposing pitchers, but began generating more consistent power in 2022. He was also voted the best prospect at the Cape Cod League last summer. While he's playing third base at Stanford, Troy moves well enough to potentially handle a move to second base or the outfield defensively.

Bleacher Report: Matt Shaw, INF (Maryland)

The Giants have taken a high school player in the first round just twice in the last decade, and both Christian Arroyo (2013) and Heliot Ramos (2017) have failed to live up to expectations. There are a lot of polished, high-floor college bats available in this range, and Shaw has a great all-around collection of tools. His average arm strength will likely push him to second base, but he is hitting .341/.445/.697 with 20 doubles, 24 home runs and 18 steals in 62 games and should have no problem hitting enough to make the switch.

CBS Sports: Walker Martin, SS (Eaton High School)

The Giants have not selected a high school player in the first round since Heliot Ramos in 2017, three general managers ago. It would be easy to give them another college player hitter -- Stanford infielder Tommy Troy would be a good local fit -- but there's been some buzz about San Francisco and Martin in recent weeks. Martin is perhaps underscouted because he also plays football and hails from a cold weather state, making it easy to dream on his untapped potential once he focuses on baseball full-time and gets with pro instructors.

Shaw and Martin are the lone two prospects who multiple mocks predicted the Giants will select with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. From this list of prospects, who do you want the SF Giants to target?