When Gabe Kapler arrived for his first camp as Giants manager in Scottsdale last spring, he opened up competitions for a wide range of starting jobs and had a long list of players battling for roster spots.
As Giants pitchers and catchers count down to their first workout of the year on Wednesday, Kapler’s second camp with the club will lack the same level of intrigue and drama.
During a video call with reporters Friday, Kapler and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi acknowledged the 2021 Giants club will enter Cactus League play with more stability, which may require the coaching staff to generate some competitiveness during spring training.
“There’s always going to be some competition and we are going to create some of the competition and challenge our players with it,” Kapler said.
One of the benefits of steadiness? A clear vision.
“I don’t know how else you can start a season other than having the playoffs as the goal,” Zaidi said. “We came about as close as you could last year and I know it was a huge disappointment for everyone.”
Zaidi knows trying to keep pace with the reigning World Series champion Dodgers and a loaded Padres roster will present challenges in a National League West he expects will be “more competitive,” but in his third year on the job, the Giants’ top baseball executive also realizes ownership and fans expect to see progress.
The Giants have taken steps forward in each of Zaidi’s first two seasons, but doing so would be more difficult in this year if they entrusted more jobs to unproven players as they did in 2019 and 2020.
“We’re trying to move up competitively, but we’re still at a stage as a team and an organization where we have to create opportunities for young players to break through,” Zaidi said Friday.
Given the current roster makeup, younger and less experienced players may have to create their own luck this spring.
The Giants have settled on their top four starting pitchers –Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood– and expect right-hander Logan Webb to begin the spring as the front-runner for the fifth starter role. The club may still add a starting pitcher via free agency or a trade, but there’s confidence Webb can hold his own after an up-and-down season last year.
Zaidi and Kapler also have a strong idea of which position players will be with the club on Opening Day as mainstays such as Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria all return in the infield while Buster Posey is back from a year-long absence as the starting catcher. Wilmer Flores and Donovan Solano will play on the right side of the infield against left-handed pitchers while recent free agent signee Tommy La Stella is penciled in for most of his reps at second base against righties.
After the Giants held an open competition for playing time at all three positions in the outfield last spring, Mike Yastrzemski ran away with an everyday role while Alex Dickerson, Austin Slater, Darin Ruf and Mauricio Dubón all proved to be valuable contributors when presented with a chance to platoon. All five outfielders return this season, but the Giants hope former Twins prospects Jaylin Davis and LaMonte Wade, Jr. will push for playing time.
The biggest question for the Giants to settle with their position player group isn’t which players will make the Opening Day roster, but rather who will earn the lion’s share of the reps in center field. With Dubón slated to practice in center, at shortstop and at third base this spring, opportunities for Davis, Wade and even Yastrzemski and Slater to prove they’re capable of playing center field at a high level will help the Giants’ decision-makers determine which outfielders make the lineup card and and how frequently they’ll start.
The one unit of the team that remains fairly uncertain is also the group that has the potential to be the biggest team strength. With a huge number of relievers in camp with major league experience and an intriguing mix of up-and-coming prospects such as Camilo Doval and Kervin Castro, the battle for bullpen roles could be the most fascinating aspect of Giants camp this spring.
The Giants are expecting to officially add veteran free agent reliever Jake McGee to the mix, but there’s at least a dozen other arms in camp who could easily secure a bullpen spot.
Injury updates
After undergoing surgery to remove a right heel spur in October, Brandon Belt is aiming to be ready by Opening Day. Belt missed the first week of games in 2020 due to a right heel injury, but returned to the lineup and was the Giants’ most consistent hitter during the second half of the season.
Belt will be a limited participant during the first two-to-three weeks of spring training as he’ll do light baseball activities.
Two pitchers who underwent Tommy John surgery last year are also working their way back into action as starter Tyler Beede has begun throwing bullpens while free agent signee and reliever John Brebbia is expected to throw his first bullpen in March.
The Giants hope Beede will pitch in live games during May while Brebbia, who had surgery in June, will remain on a throwing program for the next few months.
Giants invite top prospects to major league camp
Led by highly touted prospects Heliot Ramos and Marco Luciano, the Giants announced a group of 13 minor league players received invitations to major league spring training on Friday.
Ramos, 2019 first round draft choice Hunter Bishop and 2020 first round draft choice Patrick Bailey were among the group, and so were top pitching prospects such as 2018 second round pick Sean Hjelle and 2019 trade deadline acquisition Tristan Beck.
With Joey Bart already on the 40-man roster, Ramos could be the next top prospect to make his major league debut.
“(Ramos) was probably among our top prospects as hurt by anyone because he was on a path to potentially playing in the big leagues in 2020,” Zaidi said. “We just know he’s motivated and how highly we think of him from an organizational standpoint so it’ll be fun to see him out there.”
