Posey could be on fast track in backstop-starved organization
John Barr, the Giants' scouting director, knows something about evaluating catchers. Formerly a Dodgers scouting supervisor, Barr was instrumental in Los Angeles' selection of Russell Martin, who has developed into one of the Major Leagues' premier catchers.
So it was meaningful when Barr registered sincere joy after the Giants took Buster Posey with the fifth overall selection in Thursday's First-Year Player Draft. The Giants need hitters. The Giants need catchers. They believe that Posey, a junior at Florida State University, can bolster both areas.
"When you're trying to build a winning team and continue, this is the type of player that we think can help us achieve that goal," Barr said.
Not only does Barr recognize catching talent in general, but he's also familiar with Posey in particular. He has watched the 21-year-old play since he was a junior at Lee County (Ga.) High School.
"He was in our consideration for this selection since the day I accepted this position," said Barr, who joined general manager Brian Sabean's staff last offseason.
The only player the Giants ranked higher on their Draft board was Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez, whom Pittsburgh took second overall. This reflected the urgency San Francisco felt regarding catching. Bengie Molina's contract expires after the 2009 season, when he'll be 35, and Pablo Sandoval, who's batting .370 at Class A San Jose but is unpolished defensively, is the only semblance of a catching prospect in the Minor Leagues.
"We lack depth there, especially at the higher levels," Sabean admitted.
Thus, Posey could find himself in San Francisco sooner rather than later.
"He's on the fast track and Bengie's clock's winding down," Sabean said. "It's really up to him how soon he wants to get going and how soon he can get here."
That could be an issue, given reports that Posey's seeking a $12 million signing bonus -- nearly six times more than the $2.025 million bonus right-hander Tim Lincecum received in 2006, the highest for a Giants draftee, or the $2.1 million they gave undrafted Dominican infielder Angel Villalona that same year.
But Sabean said that drafting the best player available, not signability, was the Giants' priority.
"We'll deal with the other stuff later," he said.
Speaking briefly during ESPN2's Draft telecast, Posey sounded like anything but a prospective holdout.
"I'm extremely excited," he said. "It's one of the greatest days in my life. I'm excited about getting started."
The right-handed-batting Posey demonstrated a knack for clutch hitting last weekend in NCAA Regional action. With Florida State facing elimination, he hit .500 (8-for-16) with five homers and 13 RBIs as the Seminoles defeated Florida, Bucknell and Tulane to advance in the tournament. That outburst lifted Posey's average to .468 in 63 games with 24 home runs and 86 RBIs.
"It's kind of like getting two players in one," Sabean said. "It's very, very difficult to get an all-around catcher, especially a run-producer."
Some might say that Posey's nine players in one. A converted infielder, he demonstrated his athleticism by playing all nine positions and hitting a grand slam on May 12 against Savannah State. He also leads Florida State with six saves. The Los Angeles Angels drafted him in the 50th round in 2005 as a pitcher-shortstop, and he has been catching full-time for only two seasons.
But Jack Hiatt, the Giants' former farm director who retired last offseason and an ex-Major League catcher, scouted Posey -- along with seven other catching prospects -- and endorsed him. That was more than enough for Sabean.
"To me, he's done enough catching," Sabean said of Posey. "When you catch at Florida State, you're catching prospect pitchers at the highest Division I level. He's fine."
Posey is one of five finalists for the 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, giving annually to the nation's top amateur player. Lincecum won the award in 2006. Posey also is among three finalists for the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher. Moreover, Posey, a finance major whose cumulative grade-point average exceeds 3.8, made the Academic All-America Team assembled by CoSIDA and ESPN The Magazine. Last year, Posey was named All-ACC First Team and First Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball.
Posey is the Giants' highest selection since they took right-hander Jason Grilli with the No. 4 overall pick in 1997. He's also the organization's highest-drafted position player since third baseman Matt Williams went third in 1986. He's the first catcher San Francisco has selected in the first round of the June Draft since Bob Cummings (seventh overall) in 1978. Cummings spent nine years in the Minors and played two games above Double-A.
The Giants drafted Wichita State third baseman Conor Gillaspie 37th overall with their "sandwich" pick at the end of the first round. Gillaspie, 20, hit .425 in 57 games with 10 homers, 79 RBIs and a .706 slugging percentage this year for the Shockers.
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