Only one player the San Francisco Giants drafted in 2014 and 2015 has reached the Major League level so far.
But fortunately for the organization, 2014 eighth round draft choice Austin Slater may soon have company.
The franchise’s top two picks in 2015, first round selection Chris Shaw, and second round selection Andrew Suarez, are both enjoying successful campaigns with AAA Sacramento after receiving early-season call-ups from AA Richmond.
Over the weekend, Shaw and Suarez sat down with KNBR.com Giants’ beat writer Kerry Crowley to discuss their journeys through the Giants’ organization, and reflect on the paths they’ve taken to reach the doorstep of the Major Leagues.
“Going into the year, every year as a professional I think your goal should ultimately be, if it’s possible, to get to the big leagues,” Shaw said. “But honestly, if you told me last offseason that if I’d be in the spot I am right now, I wouldn’t be shocked. But I would definitely be a little surprised.”
After throwing a career-high 8.1 innings on Saturday evening for AAA Sacramento, Suarez said he’s not focused on if and when he’ll receive a call from the Giants, even though it would be a dream come true.
“I mean, I’m not focused on that right now,” Suarez said. “I’m just focusing on my starts and if it happens it happens, but it doesn’t matter to me.”
Shaw and Suarez are roommates in Sacramento, and both could be counted on by the Giants at the Major League level in the near future.
Even though the organization has high expectations for both players, Shaw said he hasn’t felt additional pressure along his journey through the Giants’ organization.
“I’m sure it’s different for every guy but I’ve never really kind of recognized myself as being a different type of prospect than another guy because I was a first round pick,” Shaw said. “To me, we’re all wearing the uniform and we’re all playing every day and working toward the same thing. I’ve never really kind of had that mindset, where it’s like, I’m a first rounder, I have to do this. I’m expected to do this. For me, it’s just what are my own expectations with myself, not what the public perception might be on what I should be. And obviously I set goals and I think every player does but it’s not based on what other people think I should be doing, it’s coming from within and what I think I need to be doing.”
