Giants add four more non-drafted free agents

June 26th, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO -- After selecting seven players during the 2020 MLB Draft, the Giants have continued to bring talent into their organization by tapping into the sizable pool of non-drafted free agents this year.

The Giants announced the addition of four new signees on Thursday: Pepperdine right-hander Wil Jensen, Camas (Wash.) High School outfielder Tyler Forner, Alabama catcher Brett Auerbach and University of San Francisco catcher Rob Emery. The quartet joined North Carolina Central outfielder Carter Williams and Illinois right-hander Ty Weber, who agreed to deals with the Giants last week.

Jensen, who was ranked No. 236 on Baseball America’s list of the top 500 players in the 2020 Draft class, logged a 3.03 ERA over 160 1/3 innings over parts of four seasons at Pepperdine. In 2018, the 6-foot-3, 170-pound righty opened his sophomore campaign by going 5-0 with a 0.74 ERA over seven starts before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Jensen returned at the end of the 2019 season and was off to a strong start this year before the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended his college career. Serving as the Waves’ Friday night starter, Jensen went 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA over 24 2/3 innings in four starts in 2020. The Phoenix native boasts a potential four-pitch mix, with a fastball that has reached 93 mph, a changeup that could become a plus pitch, a curveball and a slider.

Forner, the lone high school player to sign with the Giants as a non-drafted free agent thus far, spent part of his childhood in San Mateo, Calif., and will now have a chance to return to those Bay Area roots as he begins his professional baseball career. An All-State linebacker for Camas’ state champion football team, Forner turned down multiple offers from Division 1 college baseball programs to sign with the Giants.

“They told me they liked my skillset, my athleticism, what I was able to do in the weight room,” Forner told The Columbian. “They watched film of me playing football, and they liked how I moved. They said they were impressed with my potential. I’ve been playing multiple sports for so long, and they are excited to see what I can do when I just focus on baseball.”

Auerbach, who hails from Mission Viejo, Calif., served as a utility player at Alabama, primarily dividing his time between catcher and third base. Listed at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, Auerbach batted .388 and led the Crimson Tide in hits (26), doubles (eight), runs scored (22) and stolen bases (12) over 17 games during the shortened 2020 season, earning second-team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball News this year.

Emery, a native of San Francisco and a product of St. Ignatius College Preparatory, began his collegiate career at Dartmouth before transferring to USF in 2017. He slashed .310/.377/.451 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs over 96 career games while serving as the Dons’ primary catcher.

"Really excited and proud for Rob to get his chance as a professional baseball player," USF head coach Nino Giarratano said in a press release. "The Giants are a wonderful organization for a San Francisco native to have the opportunity to play for. We wish Rob and his family the best in this new journey."