With a little over a week left of Spring Training, the San Francisco Giants are finding clarity in one of their more important position battles.
Potential starting left fielder Jarrett Parker has been the most productive offensive player for the Giants this spring. Parker is leading the team in hits (12), runs batted in (12), runs scored (9) and is tied for first in home runs (4). The other player competing for the job, Mac Williamson, has not had a bad spring thus far but unfortunately for Williamson, Parker’s production has been far too good. If the regular season began today, Parker would be the starting left fielder for San Francisco.
The other offensive position battle for the Giants has also gained some clarity. San Francisco still has a plethora of veteran utility options on the Spring Training roster. A few players are beginning to separate themselves from the group. Michael Morse would be a perfect fit as a right-handed power bat off the bench. After a slow start to Spring Training, Morse seems to have found his groove at the plate. Morse could give the left-handed Parker some rest in the outfield. He could also play some first base in a bind. His familiarity with the Giants’ organization is also a positive for making the case to keep the 34-year-old on the Opening Day roster.
Among the players fighting for a backup infielder role, Jae-gyun Hwang is performing well in his first year in Giants camp. Hwang has 10 hits in just 30 at-bats this spring, three of which have gone over the fence. If San Francisco wants more power options off the bench in 2017, Hwang has to be leading the bunch of backup infielders.
The Giants will be without closer Mark Melancon for a few games, but for good reason. Melancon will be joining Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The addition of Melancon to Team USA’s roster changes the total of Giants players participating in the WBC from two to three. Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford have been on Team USA’s roster since the WBC began.
Posey has been alternating starts behind the plate with Texas Rangers‘ catcher Jonathan Lucroy. So far Posey is batting .273 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. Like Posey, Crawford been able to provide an offensive punch for Team USA. Crawford is batting .444 with four RBI and two runs scored in six games. The first chance to see Melancon pitch for Team USA comes Tuesday at 9 pm EST. Melancon will look to continue his scoreless spring against Japan.
Harrison Howard covers the San Francisco Giants and Fantasy Baseball as a Staff Writer for OPSN. Follow him on Twitter @harryhoward54.
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