The Giants have the best record in all of baseball this spring. With so many players having something to fight for, it is easy to see why. In every department, you can find intense competition. While some are coming to easier conclusions, others are likely to cause controversy whichever way they go.
At 13-3, the Giants have the best record in baseball by two games. Even if spring training records have long been irrelevant, you can’t help but sense some excitement brewing in San Francisco. Excitingly, many of the players making an impact this spring aren’t guys with nailed-down spots. The Giants have waited a while for an injection of youth, and it might just be happening.
Catching Competition
With Tom Murphy injured for the foreseeable future, the door opened up to be the Giants number two. After just 16 games, Sam Huff appears to have made the job his. The favorite to win the job going into camp, Huff has proven he is big-league ready. There will be concerns about his 11 strikeouts in just 27 PAs, but his two home runs and six walks speak to his confidence at the plate. A 1.131 OPS puts him second amongst qualified Giants hitters. Further, his competition in Max Stassi has struggled, but as a veteran known for his defense, he will remain a good option in Triple-A.
Utility Man Faceoff
Two guys with big-league experience are fighting it out to be the utility infielder. A role crucial to any team, let alone one expecting a platoon at first base. Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely are now regulars on the Giants roster, both earning extended playing time due to injuries. Both showed flashes in their respective stints but ultimately struggled to make a case to remain an everyday player. Proven by both having a career wRC+ of under 75, over 25 percent below the league average. Both though, are showing off in spring training.
Brett Wisely is regarded as the better and more versatile fielder of the two, even if he falls behind in the offense department. That means if he can maintain his .748 OPS from spring training (98 wRC+), then he would be a very helpful player for the Giants. He is an exceptional second baseman and is more than competent at short despite a limited arm. Third base may be an issue, but if Chapman were to miss an extended period, Fitzgerald could move to third, allowing Wisely to play second.
Schmitt has long been considered the better bat of the two. With power capable of at least 20 home runs. His issue remains to make consistently good contact, as a career .219 average showcases. In the field, Schmitt is quite the opposite of Wisely. An impressive arm with limited range best suits him to third base. He has played second base, but his bat would need to be hot to justify him here over Wisely.
Ultimately, despite Schmitt’s superior bat, it feels as though Wisely is the favorite for the job. His superior defensive flexibility is important, even if his bat has struggled at times. Expect both to play roles again this year, Schmitt could force his way into DH if his power is seen consistently in Triple-A. Or just generally through injuries.
The Outfield Roundout
The Giants are surprisingly set when it comes to their starting outfield. Of course, the long-standing tradition of rotating left fielders will continue. Name number nineteen in as many years is Heliot Ramos, a man familiar with a spring training battle. Centre field will be Jung Hoo-Lee, hoping for a bounce-back year after his unfortunate injury in 2024. Mr. Reliable Mike Yastremzski is looking to lead by example in the right.
The Giants will choose the two remaining spots from Jerar Encarnacion, Luis Matos, and Grant McCray. Most expect Encarnacion to make the roster, especially since he is out of minor-league options. He brings serious power potential and is widely considered the best option at DH this year.
Matos and McCray provide more of a contact-first approach. Matos is the favorite to make the roster and is expected to platoon with Yastremski. Despite striking out under 14 percent of the time, Matos only averages .235 in his short, big-league career. He has gotten ‘unlucky’ thus far by expected stats, but a lack of real power does not help his case. The Giants remain high on his bat, particularly against left-handed pitching.
McCray, on the other hand, struck out 43.1 percent of the time last year. His bat remains a work in progress for the Giants, but he offers far more. He has the potential to be a good center fielder and an elite corner defensively. His 99th-percentile arm is a good start. If you add this to his 93rd-percentile sprint speed, you’ve got a threat. Of course, Lee will be in the center for the foreseeable future, but with the bat being expected to be good enough for a corner, this could open up an opportunity for McCray. Plus, after an injury-ridden year one, McCray will likely see play time as fatigue sets in.
The 5th Starter Sweepstakes
The Giants young arms continue to fight for a spot in the starting rotation, with some beginning to stand out from the rest. The favorite, Kyle Harrison, has struggled so far. His fastball is concerningly down in velocity, and whilst it is his movement that makes it special, 91 mph fastballs don’t often play in the big leagues.
This has opened the door for others; Landen Roupp, in particular, has looked exceptional. Many now view him as the favorite for the fifth starter role, and the team has started stretching him out in recent outings. He’s added pitches to complement his elite curveball and, despite a rough appearance last time, has been tough to hit this spring. If not Roupp, Birdsong will likely be the best option, given his experience and good start to spring.
Main Photo Credits: John Hefti-Imagn Images
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