Ideally the Giants will platoon in centerfield with Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski. Unfortunately Slater was shut down with "right elbow neuritis" and will not hit or throw for a week. Let's hope he's back to full health soon. Yaz was scratched on Tuesday with a sore knee but it's not seen as serious. Luis González is also out for 4-6 weeks with a back strain. The outfield situation looks a little more fluid than before but it is too soon to tell if the Giants will need to make a move. FNGs Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger are not projected to play center and Conforto is coming off shoulder surgery and has not seen time in the field yet. Opening Day is the 30th of this month, just a few weeks away!
Top prospect Kyle Harrison made his Spring debut and got hit around a little. "Welcome to the bigs, kid!" I'm very excited about his emergence this season. I hope we get to see him on the major league club real soon. Another minor league hurler, Cole Waites (he had a cup of coffee at the end of last season) is recovering from a lat strain but was cleared to pitch starting yesterday. He jumped from A+ to AAA last year and is clearly on the fast track. He should be ready by the start of the season but may not have a spot on the staff just yet. He's another one to keep an eye on.
Tristan Beck got a start in Arizona and logged two frames. He was a starter at Stanford and has 49 more starts in the minors. He was acquired for Mark Melancon in 2019. He'll likely stay at AAA since the Giants have both Jakob Junis (who also had a two-inning start in Arizona) and Anthony DeSclafani. "TonyD" has yet to see action but is projected to be in the bullpen at this point. Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, and Sean Manaea got the other Spring starts. FNG Ross Stripling will likely be in the rotation but Sean Hjelle is getting a look and might get a spot if DeSclafani goes back on the IL. Sam Long, a lefty, will probably make the team—he's thrown the most innings (3) so far.
I'm assuming Camilo Doval, the Rogers Brothers, and John Brebbia are locks. Scott Alexander seems like an easy call, too. And Junis. That leaves two spots for an eight-man 'pen. It's good to have depth and lots of guys fighting to make the cut.
The Giants are 2-3 after five games and have scored 33 runs. Joey Bart has made the most of his chances with two doubles and a homer in two games. FNG catcher-outfielder Blake Sabol has four hits in his three games. Young third baseman Casey Schmitt is 3-for-6. He's known for his glove but has shown pop in the minors. David Villar has been tagged as the "incumbent" at third base. Like Bart he is 26 and ought to be coming into his prime. Both guys have a chance to really make a mark with the team this year.
--M.C.
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