Michael Holmes knows the feeling of drafting at No. 13 all too well. It’s a familiar seat for the Giants, who, for the third time in six years, find themselves picking squarely in the middle of the first round. But this year’s draft feels a little different. The top-heavy star power of recent years isn’t there, which makes nailing a mid-first-round pick all the more critical. For a team quietly retooling under new leadership, the pressure is building, and so is the intrigue.

With Buster Posey now running the show as President of Baseball Operations and GM Zack Minasian in his first draft with the organization, the Giants are operating with a refreshed perspective. But they’re not overhauling what works. Holmes and his scouting department still have the keys, and the target zone is starting to come into focus. All signs point to two names: Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston and Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill, both of whom offer distinctly different flavors of impact.

“You have to enter each draft with that ‘best player available’ mindset,” Holmes said. “You have to be open to what’s available.”

That flexibility could define San Francisco’s entire draft strategy. Houston, projected to go right around the 13th spot by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, brings a rare blend of high-average hitting (.354), solid power (15 HR), and defensive polish. He’s not just a theoretical fit; Holmes scouted Wake Forest personally. That kind of familiarity can go a long way when the margins are tight.

But if the Giants opt for more upside, Brendan Summerhill might be the swing they take. The left-handed junior torched Pac-12 pitching with a .343 average, a .459 OBP, and a 1.015 OPS, all while flashing the speed and instincts to stick in center field. He’s the kind of athlete that doesn’t last long on draft boards, and the kind the Giants haven’t developed internally in recent years.

Posey, true to form, isn’t micromanaging the process. He’s watching videos, asking sharp questions, and, as Holmes puts it, “stress-testing” ideas. But make no mistake, he knows this pick matters. “The importance of getting our draft picks right is monumental,” he said. Spoken like a man who lived it.

Still, all signs point to a position player at 13, and right now, Houston and Summerhill sit firmly in the crosshairs. The clock’s ticking. And for a front office looking to define its era, July 13 could be the day it all begins.

Balancing risk, reward, and the Giants’ identity

The Giants have learned the hard way that even the most promising draft picks can veer off course. Injuries to former first-rounders like Will Bednar, Reggie Crawford, and Hunter Bishop have added caution tape around high-upside, high-risk selections, especially on the pitching side. It’s a reminder that projection isn’t just about tools, it’s about durability, development windows, and how a player fits within the demands of Oracle Park and its pitcher-friendly dimensions.

That’s why this year, the front office isn’t swinging blindly for the fences. While someone like Brendan Summerhill offers exciting raw talent and positional versatility, he also comes with questions: Can his plate discipline hold against pro-level arms? Can he stick in the center long-term? The upside is real, but the leap to trust it at No. 13 requires conviction. On the other hand, Marek Houston feels like a more calculated investment. He’s already shown he can hit in a power conference, he plays a premium position, and Holmes’ deep familiarity with his makeup may remove some of the guesswork.

Still, the Giants aren’t building for 2026 alone; they have their sights set beyond 2026. Giants aim to reclaim the lasting success that once defined them as a powerhouse team. Buster Posey served as a living example of this strategy; his influence on the team contributed to a sense of oriented planning. That vision includes smart drafting, yes, but also defining what a “Giants player” looks like in this new era. Do they lean into athleticism and risk? Or do they double down on polished, high-floor talent that fits the mold of past homegrown cornerstones?

That’s the balancing act, and this pick will help define which way the scale tips.