SAN DIEGO — The San Francisco Giants’ streak of different Opening Day left fielders lived to see another year.
Receiving the honor this season was Michael Conforto, who got the nod in left field Thursday against the Padres, becoming the 18th different player to start at the position since Barry Bonds last did so in 2007. It was all but guaranteed once Blake Sabol, last year’s starter, was optioned to Triple-A.
With Conforto a free agent after this season, the streak could easily reach 19 next year, which would match a 70-year-old MLB record for the most consecutive Opening Day starts by a different player at one position. That ignominious milestone is held by the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles from 1937-1955.
Reaching 18 years, the Giants took sole possession of second place on the list, passing the Padres, who also cycled through 17 different left fielders from 2005-2021.
“I had heard about that,” manager Bob Melvin shrugged. “Hopefully there’s not a 19th next year.”
After opting in to the second year of his two-year, $36 million contract, Conforto will be looking to prove he’s back to his old form, prior to shoulder surgery two years ago, before he returns to the free agent market.
“He seems to be a lot healthier this year,” Melvin said. “The bat speed seems to be better. We expect him to have a good year. He expects to have a good year.”
The remainder of the Giants’ Opening Day lineup in San Diego against Yu Darvish was littered with their additions from this offseason.
Leading off and playing center field was Jung Hoo Lee, followed in the No. 2 hole by designated hitter Jorge Soler. Third baseman Matt Chapman batted cleanup, while Nick Ahmed lined up to his left at shortstop and rounded out the lineup in the No. 9 hole.
San Francisco Giants Opening Day lineup
1. Jung Hoo Lee, CF
2. Jorge Soler, DH
3. LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B
4. Matt Chapman, 3B
5. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
6. Thairo Estrada, 2B
7. Michael Conforto, LF
8. Patrick Bailey, C
9. Nick Ahmed, SS
SP. Logan Webb, RHP
