Giants draft potential Posey backup in Round 12

Since they drafted Buster Posey in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, the Giants have not needed to use early-round selections on a backstop, as that position is secure for the foreseeable future.

But a team needs to have depth at each position -- even one where a star looms -- so San Francisco selected LSU catcher Ty Ross with its 12th-round selection Saturday.

Coming into his junior season, Ross was known as a light-hitting defensive catcher, and he did little to dispel that notion. He struggled at the plate and hit just .211 in the regular season. Ross has never hit well in college, and those still waiting for a breakout probably will be disappointed. He has good power if he can make enough contact to use it.

Ross remains solid behind the plate, where he is a capable receiver. He has an average arm and earned praise for his handling of LSU's talented pitching staff over the last three years.

Unless Ross' bat comes around, he most likely projects as a future backup catcher.