SAN FRANCISCO — During spring training, Giants manager Gabe Kapler and his coaching staff emphasized positional versatility as the club asked players to acquaint themselves with new positions in an effort to increase their value.
The Giants weren’t reinventing the wheel or attempting to create a position-less roster, but they did want to maximize the different options Kapler could explore when building out lineups, bringing in subs and focusing on advantageous matchups.
A philosophy focused on versatility was clearly in place before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted baseball.
As the pandemic rages on, adding new layers of unpredictability to roster decisions and daily lineup choices, positional flexibility has taken on a new level of importance.
“The one thing to note is because we’re going to start with a 30-man roster, which means we’re going to have at least one more position player and probably more than that with a 26-man roster, it pays for people to expand their capabilities,” Kapler said.
Since the team returned to Oracle Park for summer workouts, outfielder Billy Hamilton and reliever Jarlín García have been placed on the 10-day injured list for medical reasons, infielder Yolmer Sánchez has dealt with back tightness, outfielder Hunter Pence has foot inflammation and first baseman Brandon Belt is in a walking boot due to a right heel flareup.
The Giants’ franchise player, Buster Posey, announced Friday he will sit out the season after adopting twin daughters who were born prematurely last Friday and will remain in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Since the pandemic began, Kapler, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris have attempted to establish a family-first culture where players can feel comfortable letting the team know when they’re uncomfortable. Whether a player tests positive for or is exposed to COVID-19, expresses concerns about MLB’s health and safety protocols, or deals with the types of natural aches and pains associated with playing the sport, the Giants want their players to be as adaptable as possible because there’s no certainty who will be available on a daily basis.
Since summer workouts began last Friday, a number of players have continued working at positions they learned during spring training while a handful of others have begun training at new spots on the diamond.
“It’s really more of a general philosophy that we want as much flexibility to get people in the lineup, as much possibility to have pinch-hit options that can go into the game very easily on defense and just be able to move our pieces around,” Kapler said.
With Belt’s status uncertain, the Giants asked outfielder Joe McCarthy to pick up a first baseman’s mitt and provide the team with a left-handed platoon option at the position. Kapler said McCarthy proved he could play the position as a minor leaguer in the Rays organization and could increase his chances of making the Opening Day roster if he can handle the job in the coming days.
With Hamilton out of the current mix in center, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Joey Rickard and Austin Slater have all spent more time in the middle of the outfield. Slater is among the players regularly bringing multiple gloves out to the practice field as he appeared in center, at first base and at second base in a 4.5-inning live batting practice on Friday.
Dubón is another, as Kapler said the Giants want him to play center field, right field, shortstop and second base this year.
“He’s prepared mentally and physically to do all of those things and we’re trying to create as many game-like reps at those positions as possible,” Kapler said.
Darin Ruf, a power-hitting designated hitter candidate, was mentioned by Kapler Thursday as having the potential to help out in left field and at first base.
The movement isn’t limited to players vying for roster spots, either. Top prospects including outfielder Heliot Ramos and infielder Will Wilson are training at different positions as Ramos –a center fielder by trade– worked in right field this week while Wilson moved all around the infield, playing third base, shortstop and second base.
In recent weeks, Zaidi and Harris have both mentioned how the team believes having top overall prospect Joey Bart learn a position other than catcher is a top priority in his development process.
The Giants won’t ask third baseman Evan Longoria or shortstop Brandon Crawford to pick up a new position, but the former three-time Gold Glove Award winners might be the rare exceptions to the rule.
A handful of players such as Pence and left fielder Alex Dickerson are relatively limited in where they can play, but the vast majority of players acquired under Zaidi were added with the expectation they can shuffle around the diamond as needed.
On Friday Zoom call with reporters, Kapler even mentioned Dickerson as someone who could see reps at first base before camp ends.
When the Giants take the field this summer, expect several players to appear at two-to-three positions each week and expect a few others to appear at two-to-three positions in each game.
Think of the Giants’ new philosophy this way: Flexibility and versatility create options, options create favorable matchups and favorable matchups create opportunities to take advantage of an opponent’s weaknesses.
