A top ten pick is only the second of Stewart’s career. The first was Jimmy Goodman and Giants fans would be delighted if 2052’s draft has a 14-year MLB career with 35.9 WAR and 5 GG and 1 PB Awards.
The player that Stewart selects to attempt that success will do so off the mound. He is another college player, going back to Stewart’s early year blueprint and comes out of Auburn University. Pete Lamar is a 21-year old junior groundballer, with a fantastic personality. He only has average stamina, but projects to have plus stuff, movement and control from a four pitch combination and a mid-90s velocity. He will start in A ball and his floor means he should be more than capable of excelling at that level.
The Giants had 6 six in the first five rounds, the first time they have retained all their picks since 2045 when they also had 6 picks. That draft brought both Juan Peralta and Jaheem Cushingberry to the Giants although the Giants will be hoping for higher ceilings from Lamar and his fellow first five rounders:
• Round 2, Pick 4 – SP Chris Varrone, age 18 out of high school
• Round 3, Pick 4 – SS Eric Rooker, age 21 out of college (North Carolina State University; Raleigh, NC)
• Round 3, Pick 15 – CF Tyrese Yeboah, age 18 out of high school
• Round 4, Pick 4 – C Tim Custer, age 18 out of high school
• Round 5, Pick 4 – SS Jeremy Mills, age 23 out of college (Coker University; Hartsville, SC)
The Giant signed all 21 of their draft class, with signing bonuses to an additional three players outside the top six, all out of high school – 7th round CF Bob Chace, 8th round 1B Jamie LaFerney, and 9th round SS Joby Biggs.
The Giants will start all of their college players in A Ball with all of the High School graduates heading to Rookie Ball. In addition to Lamar, Rooker, and Mills, 6th round RP Ricky Eggett and 12th round RP Greg Brinson will hope for an accelerated journey to the big leagues.
