NewsWheeler impresses at instructional camp
Giants get first look at their No. 1 pick in June's Draft
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
10/23/09 5:57 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants liked what they saw of Zack Wheeler, their No. 1 pick in June's First-Year Player Draft, during their instructional league session that ended Wednesday in Arizona. The four-week stint gave the Giants their first extended look at Wheeler, 19, the right-hander from East Paulding (Ga.) High School, who received a reported $3.3 million bonus after San Francisco selected him sixth overall. Giants vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans spoke favorably of Wheeler's fastball, smooth delivery, pitch command and overall approach. "He didn't get in a whole lot of games, because we were working with him on the side," Evans said. "But he was very impressive. He fit in well with the program." Wheeler, who stands 6-foot-4, wasn't the Giants' only lanky and highly touted instructional league attendee. Outfielder Rafael Rodriguez, who stands 6-5 and is projected to grow possibly another couple of inches, also refined his skills in the desert. Rodriguez, who received a $2.55 million bonus upon signing in July 2008, batted .299 in the Arizona Rookie League this year. He hit no home runs in 127 at-bats, but he's only 17. "At this point in his career, you're trying to get him to have a base of experience he can draw from," Evans said. Evans noted with amusement that Rodriguez and 6-3 Sundrendy Windster came to be known as the "Twin Towers" when they manned the outfield corners together."When they stand next to each other, it looks like we're ready to play hoops," Evans said.
Jobs weren't at stake for the 50 or so Minor Leaguers the Giants invited to instructional league, but that didn't diminish the participants' effort. "We saw a lot of work done, that's for sure," Evans said. Most of the attendees, almost evenly divided between position players and pitchers, were in their first or second professional seasons. Thus, their talents have barely started to develop, leading Giants officials to resist making definitive judgments about their capabilities. "You just want them to get comfortable," Evans said. "You don't want to overinstruct them during their first few months in the organization." While prospects worked on fundamentals and techniques they must master for advancement, Evans said that nobody undertook any radical experiments, such as outfielder Darren Ford did last year when he attempted to learn switch-hitting.Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
