MLB Pipeline picked one player from each organization’s draft class who made the strongest pro first impression, and for the SF Giants, the choice was a straightforward one: 17th-round pick Tanner Mally.
That selection fits the way the Giants approached the draft. They leaned into pitching early, taking Jackson Flora, Carson Bolemon, and Kaden Waechter with their first three picks.
Flora got into games this summer and even made a start at Double-A to close out the year. Bolemon and Waechter, both prep arms, were handled carefully in line with the usual workload limits for pitchers in their draft year, though both did get their unofficial pro debuts in the Bridge League.
Eric Logenhagen of Fangraphs also shared his observations on those two.
The later rounds brought more pitching depth, with Eric Nachtsheim and Beau Bryans going in the sixth and seventh rounds. Then came Mally out of Western Michigan University, who signed for $150,000 and began his pro career with a profile that matched something the Giants have been chasing: contact.
That skill set mattered in this class. The Giants have made a point of targeting hitters with strong contact ability, and Mally joined a group that includes Gavin Kilen, Trevor Cohen, and Isaiah Barkett as part of that effort.
Mally was sent to Low-A for his official debut and became the first Giants draft pick from the 2026 class to appear in a game. He wasted no time showing he was too advanced for that level, putting up a 1.017 OPS in 107 plate appearances with San Jose. He added six extra-base hits, 18 RBI, 25 runs, 20 walks, and 16 strikeouts, while also stealing eight bases in nine tries.
The 22-year-old also brought some defensive flexibility with him from college, where he split time between the outfield and second base. San Jose used him mostly in the outfield, but he also logged a couple of games at second.
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