San Francisco drafted two college players with their first two picks of the 2014 First Year Player Draft.
Pitcher Tyler Beede (Vanderbilt) and catcher Aramis Garcia (Florida International) join the Giants at arguably the organization's two strongest positions, but both have the upside to ascend to the majors despite the players currently in front of them.
Here's a quick look at each of the new Giants:
Tyler Beede, Pitcher – Vanderbilt (1st round, 14th overall)
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 6'4/215
Throws: Right
The player: Beede becomes a 1st round pick for the second time in a three year span. Originally drafted by the Blue Jays with the 21st pick in 2011, Beede opted to attend Vanderbilt instead.
He turned in a stellar 2013 season, going 14-1 with a 2.32 ERA in his first season as a full-time collegiate starter.
His numbers haven't been great this year – just 8-7 with a 3.58 ERA – but don't let that fool you, Beede has the arsenal and makeup of a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher.
The righty's offerings include a plus fastball that sits in the 92-94 MPH range and touches 97 on occasion, a curveball with sharp downward action, a slider, and a change – said to be a plus-plus pitch at times.
If he can harness his command, Beede has the potential to have three plus pitches to work with, and the frame to log 200+ innings regularly.
The impact: Beede has a bit more upside - and risk - than the typical college starter but has a chance to move quickly through the system if all things break right.
The Giants have plenty of pitching options with guys like Kyle Crick, Edwin Escobar and Ty Blach, among many others, and Beede will be yet another name to file away for a few years down the road.
The Giants won't know the whole story until he begins pitching professionally, but for now Beede immediately jumps into the conversation for being one of the top five pitching prospects in the organization.
He could be a part of the next 'big 3' alongside Madison Bumgarner and Crick by about 2017 or so.
Aramis Garcia, Catcher – Florida International (2nd round, 52nd overall)
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 6'2/220
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
The player: Garcia was not heavily recruited out of high school, but he was a 20th round pick of the Cardinals in 2011.
At Florida International, Garcia has really built his buzz with a few solid seasons at the plate, as well as behind it – hitting .368 and throwing out 27% of would-be base stealers this year.
Garcia offers good power and should continue to add some muscle to his 6'2 frame, meaning he still has untapped power left to develop.
He doesn't have as much swing-and-miss as other power hitters do, but he could still do well to be more patient at the plate, which will only help his power translate to in-game production.
He has a strong arm and the mentality that will aid him in staying at the catcher position professionally.
The impact: On the surface the Giants selection of a catcher in the second round may seem a bit curious, but it may have been more necessary than many think.
Whether they admit it now or not, the organization would like to move Buster Posey to a corner infield spot at some point in his career to help preserve his long-term health.
Adding Garcia to the mix gives them another option for Posey's eventual successor behind the dish.
Hector Sanchez has done fine as a backup, and Andrew Susac should at least break into the majors at some point, but Garcia projects to be the best all-around player of the three.
Even if Garcia isn't deemed the heir to Posey, the Giants still snagged a guy who should stick at the catcher position with a plus arm and plus power.
The situation could change completely by the time he's ready for the majors, but he should get there one way or another.
For more content by Chris Kersevan, check out his writer’s page and on Twitter @cker7
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