Chris Stratton to Giants: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

Position: RHP

Height/Weight: 6’2”/197

Bats/Throws: R/R 

College: Mississippi State

Year: JR

Stratton’s fastball sits at 91-96 mph with arm-side action, and he has shown the ability to consistently locate the pitch low in the zone. The only knock on the right-hander is that he doesn’t throw the pitch enough, instead relying solely on his slider at times. At the next level, such an approach won’t be as effective against professional hitters.

Stratton has a legitimate out-pitch in his plus-slider. He throws it with nearly identical arm speed, and it features late, diving movement that generates an abundance of helpless swings. 

Furthermore, he has enough confidence in the pitch to challenge hitters in the zone. The right-hander also gets enough depth and tilt on the pitch to consistently start it on the outside corner and draw flailing swing-and-misses out of the zone. Stratton also features a pretty good changeup that has become more than a show-me pitch this season, as his dominance of SEC hitters has led to a high draft projection.

Because Stratton receives 65-to-70-grades for his slider and features an above-average fastball, he’s been compared to Drew Storen as of late. Once he works with a major league pitching coach and learns to work off his fastball, Stratton could be a mid-rotation starter by early 2014.

About the Pick:

The Giants, though stacked with fine starters right now, chose Stratton at No. 20 overall. He was projected by Baseball Prospectus to go No. 15. 

Henry Schulman on the SFGate.com Giants blog was not surprised by the pick, in the wake of the Giants trading away pitching prospect Zack Wheeler last year.