The SF Giants’ 2026 MLB Draft was headlined by the obvious names: Jackson Flora at No. 4 overall and Peyton Bonds at No. 90. But if you’re looking for the part of the class that could end up paying off in a big way, the late rounds deserve a closer look.
The Giants spent the weekend leaning into pitching, but they also came away with three position players in the back half of the draft who look like real value bets on paper. None of them arrived with the buzz attached to the top picks, but all three have traits that make them worth watching.
In the 15th round, San Francisco grabbed third baseman Drew Smith out of Oregon, and the production is hard to ignore. He spent four seasons with the Ducks and put together a career line of .331/.424/.533 with 28 home runs and 136 runs batted in.
His best season came as a senior, when he hit .342/.425/.622 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs. If that bat carries over into the minors, he could move fast.
A round later, the Giants took switch-hitting infielder Dalton Wentz out of Wake Forest. He was viewed by a lot of outlets as a top-200 prospect, which tells you the talent is there.
The catch is whether he signs, since there are concerns he could go back to Wake Forest. Still, the upside is obvious: he has power from both sides of the plate and hit 18 home runs in 60 games last season.
Then came round 17, where San Francisco added outfielder Tanner Malley from Western Michigan. His numbers jump off the page for a different reason.
In 50 games last season, he hit .446, though he has not homered yet at Western Michigan. The Giants have shown they like contact hitters, and Malley fits that mold.
If he keeps putting the ball in play and brings some speed, he could become a name to follow.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Just Made A Draft Pick To Watch Closely
The Giants draft board leaned hard toward arms, with eight pitchers taken among their first 11 selections and Jackson Flora headlining the class in the first round. Even so, the club made one of its more interesting swings late by taking high school outfielder Josiah Kemp in the 12th round, a name that stands out not just because of his position but because of the family tie attached to it.
Kemp is the nephew of former major leaguer Matt Kemp, which gives the pick a little extra intrigue for a franchise that knows plenty about facing that surname in the division. The catch is that Kemp is committed to Oklahoma University, so the Giants will have some work to do if they want to turn the selection into an actual signing. [Read more 🡒]
Luis Arraez Just Sent Giants Fans A Clear Message About His Future
Luis Arraezs first half has put him in the middle of a familiar July conversation for a player on a one-year deal: he is producing well enough to draw attention, and that has only intensified the chatter around what the Giants might do before the deadline. The All-Star selection only added to the spotlight, giving San Francisco another reminder that one of its most prominent bats is also one of the most movable names on the roster.
The timing matters now, with only a couple of weeks after the All-Star break before early August forces the front office to make a call. For a Giants team trying to balance the present and the future, Arraez has become the kind of player contenders monitor closely, because his value could help shape the next phase of the roster if San Francisco decides to listen. [Read more 🡒]