Giants use first Day 2 pick on pitching

SAN FRANCISCO -- After drafting a pair of infielders Thursday, the Giants made Chase Johnson their first pitching selection when they took him off the board with their third-round pick (No. 101 overall) of the First-Year Player Draft on Friday.

Johnson, who just completed his junior year at Cal Poly, is a big right-hander who threw well in the Cape Cod League last summer after serving as the school's closer his sophomore season. But Johnson was used sparingly in 2013, as he yielded the closer's role to Reed Reilly.

He posted a 2.31 ERA in 15 appearances this season. Johnson has good stuff. He has a fastball that can reach 93 mph and has good sink to it, to go along with a slider and a changeup that both have the chance to be Major League average.

Johnson's issue has been command, but he's generally around the strike zone. And scouts believe the Giants could have a solid setup-type reliever if they can help him improve his command.