If I were writing this article on San Francisco Giants‘ second basemen just one season ago, this would be a great challenge. Journeyman Brandon Hicks won the starter’s job after a strong spring, with a hodgepodge of players behind him. Giants’ fans were desperate for the return of an old veteran favorite. Things were so dire that the Giants brought in Dan Uggla, who hit .162 with a 31 percent strikeout rate before the Atlanta Braves cut ties with the former slugger. Luckily, the Uggla experiment lasted just four games (0-11, six K’s), and what happened after changed 2014 completely.
Starter – Joe Panik
Panik was called up in late-June, and got off to an extremely slow start. In his first 18 games, he batted .212, but after that, he flipped a switch. In the final 55 games of the year, Panik .327 while firmly entrenching himself as the second baseman of the future. He finished 2014 batting .305 overall, with one home run, 10 doubles and 18 RBI’s. He found a home hitting in the two-hole, and that seems to be where he’ll start 2015.
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The 2011 first-round pick started all 17 postseason games for the Giants, hitting .233, including a big home run in the deciding game five of the NLCS.
Panik is an excellent contact hitter, as he struck out just 33 times in 73 games. He has a nice, flat swing, isn’t afraid to take the ball to the opposite field, and will use the big gaps at AT&T Park to create some extra-base hits.
Panik also proved that he is a pretty nifty gloveman as well. Who will ever forget the potentially game-changing, and game-saving, double-play he started in game seven of the World Series? He already makes pivots at second base as well as anyone in the game. I’m willing to bet that Panik wins a Gold Glove at some point in his big league career.
I don’t expect Panik to match his .305 average from 2014 immediately. If he can hit .270-.280 while continuing to act as the number two-hitter, and play his solid defense, he’ll do just fine.
Backup – Joaquin Arias
Arias, the super utility man, will most likely be slotted in as the backup to every infield position. He handles the glove well, and will make all the plays he needs to make. Offensively, he’s not a big threat, as he hit just .172 in his 11 games at second base. However, with Arias playing, the team is most likely just looking to give the starter a breather. Arias can do that, and he won’t hurt the team with silly mistakes.
Sep 27, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Matt Duffy (50) throws to first base but not in time to retire San Diego Padres second baseman Cory Spangenberg in the seventh inning of their MLB baseball game at AT&T Park. Spangenberg was given a base hit on the play. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Added Depth – Matt Duffy, Ehire Adrianza, Marco Scutaro
Duffy is another young man who made his big league debut in 2014, and he handled himself quite well in just limited time. Although Duffy was mainly a shortstop in the farm system, he played eight games at second in 2014. He can handle the position, defensively.
Offensively, Duffy is a career .304 hitter in the minor leagues, and he hit. 267 in his short stint as a big leaguer. His game is very similar to Panik’s, as they’re both contact hitters who will use all fields. Duffy will be able to contribute in the bigs.
Adrianza is also primarily a shortstop, but he did play 21 games at second base last year. Most of that time came in the first half when he was part of the “second baseman by committee.” He dealt with multiple injuries, and ended up hitting .237 when all was said and done. He’s a defensive wizard no matter where he plays, and with some consistent at-bats, he could also become a solid major league hitter.
Aug 22, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro (19) scores a run on a sacrifice fly against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Scutaro is basically included on this list for name recognition alone, as it seems that his career is just about over. The 39-year old has had multiple back surgeries over the past year-and-a-half, including the most recent in December. He played in just five games in 2014, all coming in July. If everything goes well following the surgery, there’s a slight chance he could return late in the season to contribute as a pinch-hitter, but I wouldn’t expect that. The final chapter seems to have been written in Scutaro’s book.
With Panik’s emergence, second base seems to be set for the Giants. The position has been in flux for years, and Panik has an opportunity to end that. At just 24 years old, he has a bright future ahead of him.