San Francisco Giants: Spring Training Primer
Sep 29, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) thanks the fans after the final game of the season at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 7-6 with a walk-off win. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco Giants are just days away from the start of Spring Training, the official start to the 2014 season. The Giants hope to follow up a disappointing 2013 season with a promising 2014 season, and it all starts at Spring Training. Here’s everything you need to know heading into Giants’ Spring Training.
Position battles
There are three positions where there are roster spots up for grabs in Spring Training: relief pitcher, backup infielder, and fifth outfielder. Here are the players hoping to snag one of the final roster spots at each of these positions:
Relief Pitchers: Since the Giants will most likely keep seven relief pitchers on their 25-man roster entering the 2014 season, there are currently two bullpen spots open with Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez, and Yusmeiro Petit (long reliever) most likely occupying the other spots.
The top candidates to fill these two spots are RHP George Kontos, RHP Jake Dunning, RHP Heath Hembree, RHP Jean Machi, and LHP David Huff. Some other pitchers that could potentially take one of those spots are RHP Kameron Loe, RHP Jason Berken, RHP Rafael Dolis, RHP Juan Gutierrez, RHP Erik Cordier, and RHP Derek Law.
Backup Infielder: In the offseason, the Giants signed Joaquin Arias to a two-year contract. His ability to play all four infield spots makes him an extremely valuable backup infielder, but the Giants hope to add one more for depth and insurance purposes.
The most likely player to snag this spot is 2B/SS Tony Abreu, but some other candidates are SS Ehire Adrianza, IF Nick Noonan, and possibly SS Brandon Hicks.
Fifth Outfielder: Gregor Blanco will be the fourth outfielder, behind Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence, and Michael Morse. Blanco will most likely come in for Morse as a defensive replacement at the end of close games, and he will be used as a pinch runner because of his speed.
OF Juan Perez will most likely win that fifth outfielder spot, since he can play all three outfield spots and had a strong finish to the 2013 season. OF Roger Kieschnick has the second-best chance, and some other players who are a long shot to earn that spot are OF Gary Brown and OF Javier Herrera.
Non-Roster Invitees
Pitchers
RHP Jason Berken
LHP Tyson Blach
RHP Clayton Blackburn
RHP Brett Bochy
RHP Jose Casilla
RHP Kyle Crick
RHP Rafael Dolis
RHP J.C. Gutierrez
RHP Chris Heston
RHP Derek Law
RHP Mitch Lively
RHP Kameron Loe
RHP Adam Reifer
RHP Sandy Rosario
LHP Dan Runzler
RHP Mason Tobin
Catchers
Jeff Arnold
Guillermo Quiroz
Andrew Susac
Ben Turner
Infielders
Chris Dominguez
Brandon Hicks
Mark Minicozzi
Joe Panik
Outfielders
Javier Herrera
Mac Williamson
Prospects to Watch:
RHP Derek Law
RHP Kyle Crick
RHP Clayton Blackburn
LHP Tyson Blach
OF Mac Williamson
New faces
OF Michael Morse
RHP Tim Hudson
LHP Jose De Paula
RHP Erik Cordier
LHP David Huff
Departed faces
OF Andres Torres
1B Brett Pill
OF Francisco Peguero
C Johnny Monell
OF Jeff Francoeur
IF/OF Kensuke Tanaka
RHP Chad Gaudin
LHP Jose Mijares
RHP Guillermo Moscoso
LHP Eric Surkamp
Cactus League Schedule
-All games start at 1:05 MST, unless stated otherwise.
–BOLD: Home game at Scottsdale Stadium
-*: split squad for the Giants
Wednesday, February 26 vs. Athletics
Friday, February 28 vs. Brewers*
Friday, February 28 @ Athletics* at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Saturday, March 1 @ Cubs* at Cubs Park
Sunday, March 2 vs. Diamondbacks
Monday, March 3 vs. Padres
Tuesday, March 4 @ Rockies at Salt River Fields (1:10 P.M.)
Wednesday, March 5 vs. Angels
Thursday, March 6 vs. Reds
Friday, March 7 @ Royals at Surprise Recreation Campus
Saturday, March 8 vs. Mariners*
Sunday, March 9 @ Dodgers* at Camelback Ranch
Sunday, March 9 vs. Giants Futures Stars
Monday, March 10 vs. Cubs*
Tuesday, March 11 @ Reds at Goodyear Ballpark
Wednesday, March 12 vs. White Sox
Thursday, March 13 @ Rangers at Surprise Recreation Campus (6:05 P.M. MST)
Friday, March 14 vs. Rockies*
Saturday, March 15 @ Mariners* at Peoria Sports Complex
Saturday, March 15 vs. Athletics* (3:05 P.M. MST)
Sunday, March 16 vs. Indians*
Monday, March 17 @ Angels* at Tempe Diablo Stadium
Tuesday, March 18 @ Indians at Goodyear Ballpark (7:05 P.M. MST)
Thursday, March 20 @ Padres at Peoria Sports Complex (7:05 P.M. MST)
Friday, March 21 vs. Athletics (6:35 P.M. MST)
Saturday, March 22 @ White Sox* at Camelback Ranch
Sunday, March 23 vs. Royals
Monday, March 24 @ Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium
Tuesday, March 25 @ Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park
Wednesday, March 26 vs. Rockies
Thursday, March 27 vs. Athletics (7:15 P.M. PDT at AT&T Park, San Francisco)
Friday, March 28 vs. Athletics (7:15 P.M. PDT at AT&T Park, San Francisco)
Saturday, March 29 @ Athletics (1:05 PM PDT at O.co Coliseum)