The Giants added another collegiate hitter to their draft class at the start of Day 2.
The San Francisco Giants selected Stetson shortstop Lorenzo Meola with the 116th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The Giants fourth-round selection has a $654,700 recommended slot value. Meola was expected to be a mid-round selection and so is unlikely to sign for a significantly below-slot agreement.
After selecting to bat-first prospects on Day 1, the Giants started Day 2 of the draft with one of the better defensive shortstops in the college class. At his best, Meola has flashed the potential to be a plus defender at shortstop with solid bat-to-ball skills and potential 10-15 home run power. However, there are questions about how his offensive production will translate to the professional ranks.
A three-year starter at Stetson, Meola hit .303/.390/.484 in 172 games over his career. He steadily improved offensively each season, capping off his career hitting .324/.402/.532 with nine doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, and 10 stolen bases this season with 29 walks and 46 strikeouts in 256 plate appearances. Despite his exceptional junior season, Meola struggled mightily in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .162/.260/.279 with a 28.7% strikeout rate.
Without a large spending pool (since the Giants forfeited two picks for signing Willy Adames), the Giants have understandably stayed away from prep prospects, who tend to demand higher bonuses. We’ll see if San Francisco selects its first prep prospect in the class in round five.