San Francisco Giants Pitcher Projections… As Hitters
It’s difficult to make a case against Madison Bumgarner as the best hitting pitcher in baseball, and he further cemented his status as such in 2015. He posted a .247 average and an outstanding .468 slugging percentage, also hitting five home runs, two doubles, and driving in nine runs. He even made four appearances as a pinch-hitter down the stretch when the Giants were suffering through a terribly thin bench, totaling two hits and a walk in four plate appearances.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
Bumgarner was awarded with his second-straight Silver Slugger Award, becoming the first pitcher since Carlos Zambrano in 2008 and 2009 to claim the award in consecutive years. His five home runs last year were the most by a pitcher in a season since Zambrano hit six in 2006.
Yovani Gallardo is the current active leader in home runs hit by a pitcher with 12, just one ahead of Bumgarner’s 11. But with Gallardo spending more time in the American League with the Baltimore Orioles, it’s not really a bold prediction to say that Bumgarner hits the two home runs he needs to become the active leader. He has hit nine in the past two seasons, five more than any other pitcher in the game (Mike Leake, his former teammate, is second with four). His slugging percentage in that time is also over 100 points higher than any other pitcher with at least 50 plate appearances.
Few pitchers in the game take as much pride in their hitting as Bumgarner does. Few pitchers in the game can control a game from the mound and the plate the way Bumgarner can. Another strong offensive season would lock in his status as the game’s best dual threat.
Projections:
Average – .234
Doubles – 3
Home Runs – 4
RBI – 10
Runs – 8
Sacrifices – 0
Next: Johnny Cueto