Free Agent Left Field Options for San Francisco Giants
Sep 7, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder
Scott Hairston(7) hits a RBI sacrifice fly against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
With the Giants reportedly seeking a platoon partner for Blanco in left field, Hairston seems to fit the bill. A right-handed hitter, Hairston is known as a left-handed pitcher killer. Over his career, his batting average is 40 points higher, and his slugging percentage is 80 points higher against southpaws. He averages an extra-base hit every 8.3 at-bats against lefties, compared to 10.7 against righties.
Hairston is also known as a Giant-killer, as his 14 career home runs against San Francisco pitching is his most against any team. The Giants could take a chance to see if that success keeps up while wearing a Giants uniform, instead of facing them.
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But much like Morse, Hairston will be a downgrade defensively in left field. He is nowhere near a speed demon, but he can get the job done in left field, especially if he’ll only be playing in left 30 to 40 times a year against lefties.
One other appealing factor for the Giants could be that Hairston hits their arch-rival Los Angeles Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw pretty well. In 28 career at-bats against Kershaw, Hairston has nine hits, totaling a .328 average. No current Giants’ player with as many chances, besides Marco Scutaro (9/26, .346), hit as well against the multi-time Cy Young Award-winner as Hairston.