Giants go with pitching again in the 2015 Amateur Draft, tab Phil Bickford in first round

By Morris Phillips

Don’t ask why. Just know, the Giants prefer a college guy.

The reigning World Champs tabbed Phil Bickford with the 18^th overall pick of the 2015 Amateur Draft, a power pitcher who turned spent two years in college, including last season at College of So

Bickford was the 10^th overall pick in the 2013 Draft, but he decided to forgo contract offers from the Toronto Blue Jays as a high school senior and continue his career as a collegian. After one year at Cal State Fullerton, and one at Southern Nevada, Bickford appears ready to forgo his final two years of amateur eligibility to sign with the Giants.

Bickford is the third college pitcher in the last four drafts to be tabbed by the Giants as their first pick. Prior to Bickford, the Giants selected Tyler Beede (Vanderbilt) in 2014, and Chris Stratton (Mississippi State) in 2012.

With their second pick the Giants took power-hitting first baseman Chris Shaw. The Boston College first baseman hit 11 home runs in 144 at-bats this season. He was chosen with the 31^st pick overall, a supplemental draft pick. At 6’3” and 248 pounds, Shaw fits the profile of a middle-of-the-lineup hitter and he’s the first corner infielder drafted by the team in the first round since Will Clark in 1985.

Like many other organizations, the Giants have preferred drafting collegians, players they feel are significantly closer to being big-league ready than high school prospects. Both Bickford and Shaw put up impressive numbers at the Division I level.

If the Giants are able to break a string of poor play in New York tonight in the opener of their three-game series against the Mets it will also result in Bruce Bochy’s 700^th win as a Giants’ manager. If he gains that win, Bochy will move into exclusive company in the franchise’s history. Only John McGraw (2,583 wins), Dusty Baker (840) and Bill Terry (823) have won that many games as Giants.

Hunter Pence is expected to rejoin the lineup tonight. He’s missed almost a week of action due to wrist tendonitis he suffered trying to make a catch against the Pirates last Tuesday.