Giants sign first-round pick Stratton

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SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants signedright-handed pitcher Chris Stratton, their first pick in the 2012 Draft, theteam announced Tuesday.According to Baseball America, Stratton signed for 1.85million, which matches the bonus assigned to his draft slot.Stratton is a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes award after posting a 2.21ERA and 123 strikeouts in 102 innings with an 11-2 record and one save. TheGiants selected the Mississippi State product with the 20th overallpick.The only other Giant drafted out of Mississippi State? None other than Will TheThrill Clark, who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in 1985.He actually called me after I got drafted and congratulated me, Stratton saidof Clark. Just the fact that the Bulldog family can do that is really awesome.Stratton arrived in San Francisco to sign his contract Tuesday and take in agame. He spoke with reporters briefly just before first pitch and explained theGiants plan for him.I'll be going to Phoenix for a little bit, Stratton said. Then my brotherhas a wedding so I'll be going to that, and then I'll be going to Oregon forshort season.With Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner all recent successful Giantsdraft picks, Brian Sabeans team has earned quite the reputation for draftingand developing pitchers, and Stratton has noticed.That'sall you want as a pitcher, he said. You want to be with a program thatdevelops the best players and the pitchers. Just to be alongside some of theseguys maybe in the future is an honor.Stratton is a long way away from joining the Giants rotation, but he got aglimpse of big league life Tuesday while watching Bumgarners dominant outing.But its another Giants pitcher that Stratton mentioned as one of hisfavorites.I like Matt Cain. I think he's an excellent pitcher. He really keeps the balldown, and has a good demeanor on the mound.The Giants also announced the signing of 21 other players from the 2012First-Year Player Draft.The list of pitchers signed: LHP Joseph Kurrasch (8th), RHP Ian Gardeck (16th), RHP Christopher Johnson (17th), LHP Randall Zeigler (19th), LHP Andrew Leenhouts (23rd), LHP Mason McVay (26th), LHP Chris Fern (27th), RHP Jason Forjet (31st), LHP Christopher Pickering (32nd) and RHP Brandon Farley (33rd).And the position players signed: catchers LeonardoRojas (15th), Benjamin Turner(21st) and Sam Eberle (25th);infielders Jeremy Sy (12th), Ryan Jones (13th), Matthew Duffy (18th) and JosephRapp (28th); outfielders ShiloMcCall (9th), Brennan Metzger(22nd), Andrew Cain (24th) and Shayne Houck (29th).

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