Quirarte and Surkamp

Not this summer's new buddy comedy, but instead the first two pitchers the Giants take to close out day one of the draft.

In keeping with a bizarre theme today, both were of the college variety, meaning that none of the six picks today came from the prep ranks, a real departure for the front office.

In another developing theme, both players have awesome names.

The newest Giants:

Edwin Quirarte RHP CSU Northridge - 5th Rd. (147)

Quirarte excelled as the hard-throwing closer for perennial Big West contender Cal State-Northridge. Originally drafted in 2005 out of high school in the 39th round by the Reds, the Oxnard native served as a swingman on the staff before making the full-time switch to relief his junior year.

From Scout.com:

Closer Edwin Quirarte (RHP – 2-2, 1.42 ERA, 3 SV’s, 13 apps, 1 start, 25 IP, 16 H, 11 BB, 21 K) has easily been Northridge’s most effective pitcher. He has struggled with his control but has been tough to hit for opposing batters, allowing them to only hit .174. Quirarte came up big against Cal Poly with a win and a save in shutting out the Mustangs and allowing only 1 H in 4 2/3 IP. He is one of the hardest throwers on the staff and the most experienced pitcher, making 21 apps (10 starts) last season with 62 IP and 18 apps (13 starts) with 78 IP in 2006.

Eric Surkamp LHP North Carolina State - 6th Rd. (177)

Another 2007 Team USA alum, Surkamp's got good size at 6'5", 216.

He had a great campaign for Team USA, but his 2008 numbers at NC State were less than stellar. Unofficially, the junior lefty has gone 5-2 with a 4.66 ERA, 73:32 K-BB ratio, with an opponent average of .279.

From Scout.com: Saturday's starter, Eric Surkamp, features a classic 12-to-6 curveball in addition to his fastball, which is in the mid to high 80s.

Wait a second - 80s fastball? 12-to-6 curveball? Lefty? Middling results? Funny last name?

Hopefully, he'll sign for less than a billion dollars.

On the plus side, following a victories over South Carolina and James Madison, Surkamp's NC State team faces Georgia in this weekend's Super Regionals, and we'll also get a chance to see Surkamp on national TV.

I can confirm Surkamp isn't going tomorrow, so it will either be the Saturday 9AM game on ESPN2 or Sunday's matchup at 1PM (all times PST) on ESPN.

I'll have my people let your people know.