It’s not like the San Francisco Giants have had any sort of stability in left field the past ten years. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Since Barry Bonds‘ retirement, the Giants have started a different player in left field on Opening Day every season. Jarrett Parker was the player patrolling left field on Opening Day this season.
To add more uncertainty to the position for 2017, Parker has not been the only player starting in left field for the Giants; he has been platooning with Chris Marrero. Neither Parker nor Marrero have been tearing the cover off the ball so far. Either way, San Francisco still needs someone to at least split time and possibly take the job from Marrero now that Parker is sidelined with a broken clavicle.
There are a few options that are ready to receive the call-up to the majors. The two most logical choices, Michael Morse and Mac Williamson, are still rehabbing their respective injuries that they sustained during Spring Training. Morse is currently playing in Double-A and Williamson has yet to play a minor-league game. Since Morse and Williamson are out for a little while longer, the Giants should give former Korean Baseball Organization League superstar Jae-gyun Hwang a chance.
Fans may be clamoring for top prospect Christian Arroyo to get the call up and bring the same offensive boost that Buster Posey did back in 2010. There is just one problem with that idea – Arroyo is not the same type of player that Posey was. Arroyo brings a high batting average to an offense and that is about it. Obviously Posey brought more than just that. Not only did he win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, he also hit 18 home runs in just 108 games. The most home runs Arroyo has hit in a season has been nine. He is a nice player and possibly the starting third baseman of the future for the Giants but Arroyo just isn’t ready to get the call up and have to change positions quite yet.
The 29-year-old Hwang on the other hand could make the change. Hwang has been playing professional baseball in the KBO League since he was 19-years-old, spending the majority of his career playing in the infield. The Giants have been preparing for the possibility of moving Hwang to the outfield. Out of the 11 games he’s played in Triple-A, one start was in left field. He also played a few games in left field during Spring Training. Both Marrero and Parker are not the best fielding outfielders. Hwang could have some growing pains while learning the position, but his bat in the lineup should make up for an error here or there.
Last season with the Lotte Giants Hwang batted .335, with 27 home runs, 113 runs batted in, 97 runs scored and 25 steals in 127 games. He might not be able to translate this exact stat line, but there is definitely potential in his bat. In 11 games for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, Hwang is batting .267. He hasn’t hit a home run or stolen a base yet, but he has provided five RBI and five runs. If given the chance, Hwang could be more then just an offensive spark. He could take control of the left field job this season and for years to come.
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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