NEW YORK — Major League Baseball executives rarely like to admit when they draft “for need,” but members of the Giants front office may have no choice but to say so this year.

For the first time since 1969, the Giants used their first seven draft picks on position players.

President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and amateur scouting director Michael Holmes were determined to add hitters to their farm system and they accomplished that goal on the first two days of the draft.

The Giants chose Arizona State outfielder and Palo Alto, Calif. native Hunter Bishop with the No. 10 overall pick and used two more of their first seven picks on outfielders. Holmes also said on Monday that second round selection Logan Wyatt, a first baseman out of Louisville, is athletic enough to play a corner outfield position in the pros.

Bishop isn’t the only local product who was chosen by the Giants as he was joined by seventh round pick Armani Smith, an outfielder out of UC Santa Barbara who attended De La Salle High in Concord. Smith is the nephew of Vallejo native and New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia while Bishop is the brother of Mariners rookie outfielder Braden Bishop.

Watching this Pac-12 Network feature on #SFGiants first round pick Hunter Bishop and came across a pretty neat photo.https://t.co/JaIQFixSgN pic.twitter.com/2mDZRZkzvQ — Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) June 4, 2019

The Giants took seven college players, three high schoolers and just one pitcher in the top 10 rounds of the draft. Four of the players the Giants drafted play shortstop and five of the nine position players swing left-handed. A clear mission to stock up on hitters could pay dividends in the future for an organization that has traditionally struggled to attract free agent position players since the opening of Oracle Park in 2000.

The only pitcher the Giants chose in the top 10 rounds was right-hander Caleb Kilian, a Texas Tech product who started 15 games for the Red Raiders this season.

Third round selection Grant McCray (Lakewood Ranch High, Florida) was the first high schooler drafted by the Giants in this year’s draft. McCray is committed to Florida State, but a source close to McCray’s family said the 18-year-old outfielder will likely sign with the Giants. McCray’s father, Rodney, had 14 major league at-bats between 1990-1992.

One of the more intriguing selections the Giants made came in the ninth round when they drafted shortstop Simon Whiteman, a senior out of Yale. Whiteman hit .321, stole 28 bases in 28 attempts and was reportedly endorsed by Yale for a Rhodes Scholarship.

Manager Bruce Bochy was asked about Bishop, the team’s first round selection ahead of the Giants’ three-game series against the Mets on Tuesday. Both Bochy and hitting coach Alonzo Powell watched video of Bishop and are impressed with the power the left-handed hitting outfielder generates.

“He’s a kid that put up some big numbers and looks like he’s really improved as a player and on a fast pace,” Bochy said. “Obviously we’re excited to have him and his potential.”

Bochy said Giants executive Brian Sabean scouted Bishop when he played at Serra High in San Mateo and at Arizona State in Phoenix. Sabean called Bochy after the Giants selected Bishop to chat about a player who hit 22 home runs for the Sun Devils this year.

Giants draft picks by round

1. (10): Hunter Bishop, outfielder, Arizona State

2. (51): Logan Wyatt, first baseman, Louisville

3. (87): Grant McCray, outfielder, Lakewood Ranch High, FL

4. (116): Tyler Fitzgerald, shortstop, Louisville

5. (146): Garrett Frechette, first baseman, Orange Lutheran High, CA

6. (176): Dilan Rosario, shortstop, Colegio Marista HS, Puerto Rico

7. (206): Armani Smith, outfielder, UC Santa Barbara

8. (236): Caleb Kilian, right-handed pitcher, Texas Tech

9. (266): Simon Whiteman, shortstop, Yale

10. (296): Jeff Houghtby, shortstop, University of San Diego

Posey dealing with hamstring strain

Bochy said an MRI revealed catcher Buster Posey is dealing with a mild right hamstring strain and is still considered “day-to-day.”

Posey injured his hamstring running out a groundball in the Giants’ victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. With Posey sidelined, the Giants are temporarily carrying three catchers as they are hoping Posey can avoid a stint on the injured list.

The decision to carry three catchers prevented San Francisco from activating reliever Trevor Gott (forearm strain), who was eligible to return from the injured list on Tuesday. Bochy indicated Gott will be back on the active roster Wednesday if Posey is able to play.

Posey may not start again until Thursday’s series finale, but Bochy said he’s able to pinch hit if needed.