MLB Draft: SF Giants select Illinois-Chicago 3B Charlie Szykowny in ninth round
The SF Giants selected third baseman Charlie Szykowny out of the University of Illinois-Chicago with their ninth-round (270th overall) pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. The slot value for the 270th selection is $177,500, but Szykowny is a graduate student who will likely sign for a significantly smaller amount.
Szykowny spent the first four years of his college career at the University of Wisconsin-Stout before taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility to transfer to UIC. In his first taste of the Missouri Valley Conference, Szykowny hit .335/.426/.655 with 16 home runs and just 34 strikeouts in 237 plate appearances and won the conference's Newcomer of the Year Award.
Szykowny primarily played shortstop in college, but at 6'4'' with limited range, he will likely immediately move to the hot corner or the keystone upon turning pro. That coupled with his advanced age (23) and inexperience outside the lower levels of college baseball, has kept him from being a more highly regarded prospect. Nevertheless, he will look to emulate recent prospects like Vaun Brown, by hitting the ground running in the minor leagues.
The Giants will have some time before their final selection of Day 2, which will be the 300th overall pick (10th round). We'll see who else joins the SF Giants 2023 MLB Draft class.
