The San Francisco Giants made a notable move in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by selecting catcher Rod Barajas Jr. from Saddleback College — the son of longtime MLB catcher Rod Barajas.
The 11th round often presents teams with unique opportunities, particularly to draft players who fall due to concerns about their willingness to sign. Since MLB draft slot values only apply to the first 10 rounds, teams can offer up to $150,000 in signing bonuses afterward without affecting their bonus pool. Bonuses above that threshold do count, but clubs with remaining bonus pool money can use it strategically to lure talent that typically wouldn’t be available this late.
The Giants have utilized this tactic before. In 2019, they drafted Trevor McDonald from George County High School in the 11th round and signed him for $797,500, convincing him to skip college.
This year, the Giants chose a player with MLB lineage. Barajas Jr. posted a strong season at Saddleback, hitting .289/.421/.472 with six home runs and 30 RBIs over 199 plate appearances. Known for his plate discipline, the left-handed hitter recorded more walks (29) than strikeouts (23), fitting the Giants’ draft trend of prioritizing players with low strikeout rates.
Catching runs in the Barajas family. The elder Rod Barajas played 14 seasons in the majors, hitting double-digit home runs in eight of them. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and has served on the Padres’ and Marlins’ staffs as a catching instructor and quality control coordinator.
Barajas Jr. could begin his professional career as early as this summer, depending on whether he signs. With potential bonus pool room to work with, the Giants