26, so far

The roster seems to be shaping up. It looks like Mitch Haniger will start the season on the IL. Austin Slater is also a question mark for Opening Day. That opens up a spot for switch-hitting 2017 6th-round pick Bryce Johnson who is known for his speed and his CF glove. Catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol will likely get the nod as well. Roberto Pérez will make the team as the backup backstop and Joey Bart will be the starting catcher. Sabol is a lefty hitter and I can't say if the Giants have plans for him at catcher but he's had a good spring and impressed the bosses. He's a Rule 5 pick so he has to stay on the ML-roster or he goes back to the Pirates.

If we assume LaMonte Wade, Jr. (1B), Thairo Estrada (2B), David Villar (3B), and Brandon Crawford (SS) make up the primary infield then adding Pérez and Bart makes six spots. Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis bring the tally to eight. Wade and BCraw are left-handed batters.

The outfield will be anchored by two left-handed hitters, Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Conforto, along with the aforementioned Johnson and Sabol. Add in lefty-hitting Joc Pederson and the roster hits lucky thirteen. Ideally Pederson will DH but with Haniger and Slater out he may have to wear a glove now and then. He's donned a mitt for first base as well but let's hope Davis and Flores can handle those chores behind Wade.

FNGs Sean Manaea (lefty) and Ross Stripling (righty) will be in the starting rotation along with Alex Wood (lefty) and of course Logan Webb (righty). The only question mark is righty Alex Cobb who took a liner off his knee and has been sidelined. They'll probably just push him back from his scheduled April 1st start (the #2 spot) in New York. Anthony DeSclafani (righty) appears to be the sixth man at this point or perhaps he and Jakob Junis (righty) can fight over it. That also brings up Sean Hjelle (righty) who will break camp with the big club. He's also impressed the bosses this spring. He's been a starter in the minors but was used as a reliever last year. Now we are up to twenty-one.

The final five are set: Camilo Doval (righty), The Rogers Brothers (righty Tyler & and lefty Taylor), John Brebbia (righty), and Scott Alexander (lefty).

Things can change of course.

Sergio Romo, who signed a minors deal, will take the mound for the last time on the 27th at home (exhibition) against the A's. He'll retire with the Giants. Great move—he's certainly a beloved player. Real baseball starts on the 30th when Logan Webb squares off against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees in NYC.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

p.s. I thought the World Baseball Classic was great. I didn't get to see much of it but I liked the stories and I thought the tournament was a fine showcase for the sport. I hope they keep it going as it looked like a lot of fun for both the players and the fans.