The work doesn’t stop for teams like the San Francisco Giants after the MLB Draft wraps up.
On Tuesday, Kent State announced that third baseman had signed an undrafted free-agent deal with the Giants.
“I’m incredibly proud of Hayden and thrilled about his future with the Giants,” said Kent State head coach Jeff Duncan in a statement. “He’s earned this opportunity, and I’m confident he’ll make the most of it. San Francisco is getting a tremendous competitor and a standout player.”
Jatczak brings both proven production and untapped potential. He demonstrated his ability to succeed against top-tier pitching in the Mid-American Conference, earning MAC Player of the Year honors and being named an ABCA/Rawlings All-American for the 2025 season.
His third-team All-America selection made him just the third Kent State player in the past decade to receive such an honor and the first Golden Flashes third baseman to do so since Mike Gulan in 1992. Gulan went on to appear in 11 MLB games.
Jatczak only spent one season at Kent State after transferring from Division II Saginaw Valley State. He tied for the national lead in doubles (28) and ranked among the top 10 in Division I in runs (79), RBIs (81), and slugging (.770). He posted a .376 batting average with a .491 on-base percentage and a .770 slugging percentage, hitting 16 homers and driving in 81 runs.
Before his time at Kent State, Jatczak was a standout at Saginaw Valley State, where he was the 2024 GLIAC Player of the Year and the 2021 Freshman of the Year. He also earned Midwest Region Player of the Year honors in 2024 and was named a first-team All-American. He hit .415 over his Cardinals career, with 16 homers and 48 extra-base hits in his final season alone.
In addition to his hitting prowess, Jatczak also pitched both at SVSU and in summer leagues. In 2024, he went 6-0 with two complete games and a 3.54 ERA over 56 innings. During summer ball in the Northwoods and Coastal Plains Leagues, he posted a 2.32 ERA across 50 innings.
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