Giants select RHP Phil Bickford with first round selection in the 2015 Draft
The San Francisco Giants selected College of Southern Nevada right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford with the 18th overall selection in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the club announced today.
The 2015 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist posted a 9-1 record with a 1.45 ERA (14er, 86.2ip) in 16 starts this season at College of Southern Nevada. Bickford struck out 166 batters compared to just 21 walks in 86.2 innings of work. He recorded 10-or-more strikeouts in eight of his 16 starts.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder was impressive during the 2014 summer in the Cape Cod League, as he allowed just two runs and struck out 44 batters in 27.2 innings of work. Bickford received the Russ Ford Award, as the most outstanding relief pitcher and the Robert A. McNeese Award, as the league's top prospect.
During his Freshman year at Cal State Fullerton, Bickford posted a 6-3 record with a 2.13 ERA in 20 games (10 starts). He held opponents to a .232 batting average against and struck out 74 batters in 76.0 innings of work. His 8.76 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fourth in the Big West in 2014.
The Newbury Park native earned a number of honors as a Senior at Oaks Christian High School including, CIF Southern Section Division IV Player of the Year, Max Preps California Medium Schools Baseball All-State team, Los Angeles Times All-Area Team, Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team, Ventura County Star Player of the Year and Tri-Valley League MVP.
Bickford was also selected by the Toronto Blue Jays as the 10th overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign.
The San Francisco Giants selected power-hitting first baseman, Chris Shaw, with their supplemental draft pick, the 31st overall selection.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder hit .319 with 11 homers and 43 RBI for Boston College in 2015. Shaw finished the season with a .611 slugging percentage and a .411 on-base percentage. He was named to the Second Team All-ACC, despite missing time due to a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Shaw led the Cape Code League last summer with eight home runs and ranked second with 34 RBI, while recording a .275 (46-for-167) batting average. He was honored with the Cape Cod Baseball League's John J. Claffey Award as the New England Top Prospect playing for the Chatham Anglers.
In 2014, the Lexington, Massachusetts native was named to the Perfect Game USA's Pre-season All-America First Team, Baseball America Preseason All-America Second Team and Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team by Collegiate Baseball after batting .329 with 45 RBI and six home runs. Shaw recorded a 16-game hitting streak, which currently ranks as the third-longest streak in Boston College school history. He was later named to the First Team All-ACC.
This marks the second time Shaw has been drafted, as he was taken in the 26th round of the 2012 draft by the New York Mets, but did not sign.
With the 61st pick in the draft, the Giants selected left-handed pitcher Andrew Suarez out of the University of Miami.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt junior went 9-1 with a 2.96 ERA (26er, 79.0ip) and 74 strikeouts in 14 starts this season. He was named a third-team All-ACC selection for the second straight season.
The Miami, Florida native was picked by the Washington Nationals in the second round of the 2014 First-Year Player draft, but elected to return to school. That season he made 16 starts, posting a 6-3 record and 2.96 ERA (36er, 109.2ip) with 87 strikeouts, compared to just 15 walks.
2015 MLB FIRST-YEAR DRAFT SCHEDULE
Tonight's portion of the draft included only the first round, Competitve Balance Round A, the second round and Competitive Balance Round B...the draft will resume tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. PT with rounds three through 10, and then Wednesday, June 10 will cover rounds 11 through 40.