Getting To Know Your 2019 Draftees: Trevor McDonald

Welcome to this series that I consider as special in my heart. This is where I interview the 2019 draftees, get to know them better, in turn, you get to know them too. Past the scouting reports, past other people's opinions, straight from the source themselves. However, I am going to cover those prospects who did not have the media fanfare, the attention, the spotlight. I am going to focus on the prospects beyond top pick, Hunter Bishop. From Logan Wyatt down, I am doing my hardest to reach out on the day 2 and 3 draftees and put them on the map more to Giants fans.

This interview is very verbatim. I don't want to edit what the prospects said about the topics so that you can feel what type of personality they had. In turn, you see mine as well. I am using initials (mine's W, the draftees depend on the first letter of their first name).

In this interview, I talked to Trevor McDonald, the 11th rounder and in my opinion, the pitcher in this draft class with the highest ceiling. I had plenty of fun talking to him where it is just easy to ask questions and honestly, been hella excited to talk to him. His wanting to work hard is just oozing and really wants to do anything he can to be great. Those attributes separates those who really reach the very top. Everyone has the talent but those who work the hardest to match the talent are the ones who are going to be special, and I think this guy can. 

Getting To Know Your 2019 Draftees: Kanoa Pagan

Welcome to this series that I consider as special in my heart. This is where I interview the 2019 draftees, get to know them better, in turn, you get to know them too. Past the scouting reports, past other people's opinions, straight from the source themselves. However, I am going to cover those prospects who did not have the media fanfare, the attention, the spotlight. I am going to focus on the prospects beyond top pick, Hunter Bishop. From Logan Wyatt down, I am doing my hardest to reach out on the day 2 and 3 draftees and put them on the map more to Giants fans.

This interview is very verbatim. I don't want to edit what the prospects said about the topics so that you can feel what type of personality they had. In turn, you see mine as well. I am using initials (mine's W, the draftees depend on the first letter of their first name).

In this interview, I talked to Kanoa Pagan, the 19th rounder, via his advisor Nick Salzeri. I sent a list of questions and was fortunate to get a great answer on every question. Topics to be seen are his hilarious draft story, pitching in Oracle Park pre-draft, the work he's put in, etc. I find his replies to be very candid and very honest, and I love it. I hope you find it fun too!

Getting To Know Your 2019 Draftees: Najee Gaskins

Welcome to this series that I consider as special in my heart. This is where I interview the 2019 draftees, get to know them better, in turn, you get to know them too. Past the scouting reports, past other people's opinions, straight from the source themselves. However, I am going to cover those prospects who did not have the media fanfare, the attention, the spotlight. I am going to focus on the prospects beyond top pick, Hunter Bishop. From Logan Wyatt down, I am doing my hardest to reach out on the day 2 and 3 draftees and put them on the map more to Giants fans.

This interview is very verbatim. I don't want to edit what the prospects said about the topics so that you can feel what type of personality they had. In turn, you see mine as well. I am using initials (mine's W, the draftees depend on the first letter of their first name).

In my first interview, I spent time with Najee Gaskins, the Giants selection in the 20th round out of St. Cloud State University. We talked about his draft story, a bet in his first homer, skillset and more. Overall, I had a blast talking to him, it just felt very natural and a very fun one. Had a lot of laughs while talking to him so I hope you do as well!

Getting To Know Your 2019 Draftees: Harrison Freed

Welcome to this series that I consider as special in my heart. This is where I interview the 2019 draftees, get to know them better, in turn, you get to know them too. Past the scouting reports, past other people's opinions, straight from the source themselves. However, I am going to cover those prospects who did not have the media fanfare, the attention, the spotlight. I am going to focus on the prospects beyond top pick, Hunter Bishop. From Logan Wyatt down, I am doing my hardest to reach out on the day 2 and 3 draftees and put them on the map for Giants fans.

This interview is very verbatim. I don't want to edit what the prospects said about the topics so that you can feel what type of personality they had. In turn, you see mine as well. I am using initials (mine's W, the draftees depend on the first letter of their first name).

In my second interview, I spent time with Harrison Freed, the outfielder from Butler University selected in the 13th round by the Giants. We talked about getting the call, his relationship with long-time friend Ryan Pepiot who was drafted by the Dodgers, improvements he's done on the offseason, etc. I had a blast talking to Freed, he seemed to be very level-headed, self-aware, intelligent, very professional and mature. I hope that you see the traits that I saw while talking to him.

2019 MLB Draft Day 3 Review

We did it everyone. We survived the exciting three days of the 2019 MLB draft. In my opinion, this is one of the best drafts by the team based on an initial reaction standpoint, with the Zaidi-Holmes regime still able to draft prospects in day 3 that are in the top 200 draft prospects list of MLB.com. Not just drafted, they are also expected to sign and play for the club. 

Now, this is where it really starts. Once the pleasantries have been delivered, buffet's been served, hugs been given, it's now time to put in the work in order to not just live their draft expectations, but reach their ultimate dream of reaching the big leagues and winning a title (hopefully, with the Giants). There are a lot of draftees in day 3 so I will just do a highlight or partial scouting reports on each signable draftee (those who chose to play college over pro ball will not be included).

2019 MLB Draft Day 2 Review

The day 2 of the 2019 MLB Draft came pretty quickly after the first, and with Zaidi saying that they will fill the tab up with hitters, and boy he did, with 9 of the 10 draftees with year being hitters. Pretty interesting draft, so enough with the chitchat and let's get started.

Full scouting reports will be done on rounds 3-6 and partial reports will be done from rounds 7 onwards.

2019 MLB Draft Day 1 Review

It has come down upon us folks, the first day of the 2019 MLB draft has come to pass. There are little surprises early on in a draft that was expected to be full of. I do not really care much about other teams and their picks and it is very unfair to grade their picks because they will have to undergo the grind of the minors to grade them either as a bust or a success. 

For the Giants, the draft went pretty much what expected, especially when there are a plethora of names being thrown around to be selected. No C.J. Abrams, no Jackson Rutledge, no Bryson Stott, nada. It was the one that I am very hyped since following college baseball early this year, Hunter Bishop, with the 10th overall selection. With the second selection, the Giants went pretty intriguing with Logan Wyatt, a first baseman. Yes, a first baseman. They said that they see a potential corner outfielder there but yes, a first baseman. 

Scouting reports and grades are my own and I hope you find this one a good read. 

2019 May Prospect Reports

Welcome to the May prospect report! Now the draft is just a couple of sleeps away so before we get to the draft content, I am monitoring the whereabouts of prospects and telling you what I have seen in terms of the movement of their stats over the course of the month. We are now in May and the long season is coming unto us. From big league promotions to return from injuries, I hope you find this fun to read.

Since the DSL just started its season, it will not be included in this edition but will be in the June piece.