Draft Day Drama Posey’s New Rule

     As the sun sets on the first week of July, the San Francisco Giants find themselves standing at the threshold of something both familiar and brand-new. With picks in hand and dreams in their eyes, Buster Posey and Zack Minasian are steering this franchise into its first ever Major League Baseball draft under their leadership, a moment that blends the echoes of the past with the promise of tomorrow.

Three of the last six years have seen San Francisco proudly sitting at the league’s 13th overall pick. That consistency gives Michael Holmes, the club’s director of amateur scouting, a comfort with the numbers. “We know what that territory looks like,” Holmes says. But as he points out, that doesn’t soften the impact of the talent set to slide under the scoreboard once more. “The quality of players available at 13 makes this a really tough choice.”

The twist? For the first time, it’s not just scouts standing behind the podium. Atop the decision-making ladder sit Posey, now President of Baseball Operations, and GM Minasian, both primed to shape the next generation. Though often hidden behind video screens rather than bleachers, Posey is far from hands-off. He brings a blend of respect and challenge to the process, pressing Holmes and his staff with inquisitive questions that sharpen their vision. Holmes appreciates the dynamic. “Buster stress-tests us in a really positive way,” he says, crediting the process with retaining its honesty even under new leadership.

Posey’s presence isn’t merely symbolic. He’s a walking testament to what thought-through drafts can yield. His own selection in 2008 as the fifth overall pick helped spark three Giants championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014. He speaks candidly about the draft’s stakes. “Getting it right is monumental. Those picks could shape an organization.” It’s not nostalgia talking, it’s strategy, born from the blood, sweat, and glory of a legacy built from homegrown talent.

Interestingly, the Giants are expected to steer clear once again of pitching in round one. Despite the ongoing premium on arms, particularly those honed in college, the franchise has passed on pitching early in seven of the past eight drafts, citing concerns about durability. That echoes the fate of previous first-round hurlers like Will Bednar and Reggie Crawford, whose development has been stifled by injuries. Instead, position players, particularly shortstops and outfielders, are drawing interest. Two names float high on their radar. Wake Forest’s Marek Houston, a slick-fielding shortstop with power who hit .354 this year, and Arizona’s lefty outfielder Brendan Summerhill, who batted .343 with an OPS north of 1.000, have scouts buzzing.

The 2025 draft also comes with a logistical catch. It’s only two days long. Rounds one through three land on Sunday, with rounds four through twenty compressing into Monday’s marathon. Holmes admits the condensed format may add stress, not lessen it. But whether the picks unfold over three days or two, the Giants remain locked in on selecting the best player available, no matter the slot.

While the league at large clings to starters like gold, San Francisco balances tradition with caution. They’ve built pitching depth through later rounds and international signings, but they also prize position-player impact. “One way to win in San Francisco is with pitching and defense,” Holmes points out, “but we’d like a bunch of homegrown position players too.”

Behind the headlines and strategy boards, Posey and Minasian face a pressure cooker. Baseball’s next generation hangs on their choices. Yet they’re not just drafting players. They’re drafting culture. After all, Posey himself started down this path as a top pick. Now, he’s guiding a new wave of talent with the same humility and vision that once carried him.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Oracle Park once thrived on the smiles of homegrown heroes like Posey, Bumgarner, Lincecum, and Cain. Now, with the future in hand and the past as proof, the giants of tomorrow will be shaped in these two electric days. If they get it right, the 2025 draft could be the spark the franchise needs to reignite its glory.