R.J. Dabovich. Darryl Webb/For the Republic-Imagn Content Services, LLC
After not taking a pitcher until the eighth round in last year’s draft, the Giants finished this year’s edition with a run of arms.
Farhan Zaidi, amateur scouting director Michael Holmes and the Giants’ organization added a pair of pitchers in the fourth and fifth rounds, making four of their seven picks hurlers — four and a half if you include two-way player Casey Schmitt — after they used just one pick in the first 10 rounds last year on a pitcher.
In the fourth round, the Giants scooped up righty R.J. Dabovich from Arizona State before completing their draft with Ryan Murphy, a righty out of Le Moyne in New York, in the fifth.
Dabovich was a teammate for a season with Hunter Bishop. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound righty struggled in 2019, then reportedly impressed in the Cape Cod League. He returned to the Sun Devils this season as their closer and dominated in the small-sample size of 11 2/3 innings: one earned run, 17 strikeouts, though nine walks. His stuff reportedly ticked up out of the bullpen, and he was hitting the upper 90s.
Murphy entered many radars by impressing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2019, pitching to a 2.25 ERA in 48 innings. Presuming he signs, the 20-year-old will finish his Northeast-10 career with 203 2/3 innings thrown with 215 strikeouts and 44 walks.
The Giants finish up having chosen just one high-school player, De La Salle lefty Kyle Harrison, in the third round. Their entire draft haul:
Round One: Patrick Bailey, C, NC State
Round Two: Casey Schmitt, 3B, San Diego State
2C (Compensation): Nick Swiney, LHP, NC State
2C (Compensation): Jimmy Glowenke, SS, Dallas Baptist
Round Three: Kyle Harrison, LHP, De La Salle High School
Round Four: R.J. Dabovich, RHP, Arizona State
Round Five: Ryan Murphy, RHP, Le Moyne
