CSN’s Bickford goes No. 18 overall to World Champs
Former College of Southern Nevada right-hander Phil Bickford was drafted today in the first round and 18th overall by the San Francisco Giants.
Bickford (6 feet 4 inches, 205 pounds) could be a starter or a reliever at the next level. At CSN this past season, he went 9-1 with a 1.45 ERA, striking out 166 batters in 86 2/3 innings.
He relied mostly on a fastball that routinely reached the mid-90s.
“His mechanics are all over the place,” MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds said shortly after the selection was made. “Sounds a lot like (Tim) Lincecum. I don’t think the Giants are worried about fixing things.”
News broke earlier in the day when Baseball America reported that Bickford tested positive for marijuana, but it obviously didn’t hurt his prospects. Bickford was expected to a few spots lower than where he wound up.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65
