Giants focus on lefty pitchers on Draft Day 2

Slugging college outfielders Quinn, Brusa also chosen

June 10th, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO -- Four of the Giants' eight selections on Friday's second day of the 2016 Draft were left-handed college pitchers, reflecting their belief that the pool of available players of this type was especially talent-rich. The quartet of southpaws included a local product, St. Ignatius High School graduate Matt Krook.
The Giants were almost as relentless in their pursuit of helpful hitters. After using their lone first-day choice on Vanderbilt outfielder Bryan Reynolds in Thursday's second round, they grabbed a pair of legitimate college sluggers, Samford's Heath Quinn (third round) and Pacific's Gio Brusa (sixth).
The Draft concludes Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 9 a.m. PT.
Round 3 (95th overall), Heath Quinn, OF, Samford University
Quinn enjoyed a fruitful junior year, batting .343 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs. Physically imposing at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Quinn was a first-team All-Southern Conference choice.
Last summer, Quinn excelled in the wooden-bat Cape Cod League, where he ranked third with 14 extra-base hits and fourth with a .486 slugging percentage. The 21-year-old bats and throws right-handed.

Round 4 (125th overall), Matt Krook, LHP, Oregon
Always attentive regarding pitching depth, the Giants jumped on Krook, who was drafted 35th overall by the Marlins in 2013 but went to college after post-Draft physical examinations revealed a labral tear. He then required Tommy John surgery after making eight starts for the Ducks as a freshman and missed all of the 2015 season. However, he made the most of his abbreviated '14 season, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.79 ERA and 60 strikeouts.
• SF product Krook thrilled to be drafted by Giants
Krook resumed pitching last summer with Wareham in the Cape Cod League, where he went 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in six appearances. This year with Oregon, the San Mateo native struck out 68 batters in 53 2/3 innings, frequently displaying his low-90s velocity.

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Round 5 (155th overall), Ryan Howard, SS, Missouri
The Giants were extremely familiar with Howard, having drafted him in the 31st round last year. He elected to return to school and batted .295. He displayed some gap power with 13 doubles, five home runs and a triple.
Howard also was the starting shortstop on last year's USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. He hit .310/.344/.431 in 17 games.
Round 6 (185th overall), Gio Brusa, OF, University of the Pacific
Many experts ranked Brusa among the Draft's top power-hitting prospects. He established himself as a prospect with his performance for Brewster in the Cape Cod League in 2014, when he hit .322 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. He proved that wasn't a fluke by hitting .290 with eight homers and 23 RBIs for Yarmouth-Dennis at the Cape last summer. This year at UOP, Brusa led the team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and RBIs. He finished his college career among the school's top five in doubles, homers and RBIs. Brusa was drafted in the 37th round by Atlanta in 2012 and in the 23rd round by St. Louis last year.
Round 7 (215th overall), Garrett Williams, LHP, Oklahoma State University
Shoulder tendinitis limited Williams to 10 2/3 innings during the regular season. He displayed first-round potential earlier in his college career and as a senior at Calvary Baptist (Texas) High School, but injuries and illness -- he needed thoracic outlet surgery entering his senior year as a high schooler -- tempered enthusiasm for him. He lasted all the way until the 33rd round when San Diego drafted him in 2012. At his best, Williams can throw his fastball at around 93-96 mph and possesses a hard curveball.

Round 8 (245th overall), Stephen Woods, RHP, University at Albany
Woods inspires faith with his stuff, not his statistics. He struck out 88 batters in 64 2/3 innings this season, proving capable of dominance. His potential led the Giants to ignore his 4-5 record, 5.57 ERA, 41 walks and 22 wild pitches. Woods threw back-to-back no-hitters in a seven-day span at Half Hollow Hills East High School in his hometown of Dix Hills, N.Y., prompting Tampa Bay to select him in the sixth round of the 2013 Draft.
Round 9 (275th overall), Caleb Baragar, LHP, Indiana University
A transfer from Jackson Community College in Michigan after his sophomore season, Baragar finished 4-4 with a 2.49 ERA in 15 starts for the Hoosiers this year as a senior. Opponents hit just .205 off him, and he struck out 74 batters in 86 2/3 innings.
Round 10 (305th overall), Alex Bostic, LHP, Clemson University
Earned run average matters relatively little to relief pitchers. Stuff does, which explains the Giants' selection of Bostic. He trimmed his ERA only slightly this year, from 5.25 to 5.13. But he also struck out 44 in 33 1/3 innings while making 26 appearances (including one start) and recording two saves.