San Francisco Giants Pitcher Projections… As Hitters
Chris Heston doesn’t enter the season with a rotation spot, but as the long reliever and occasional spot starter, he figures to get a share of chances to hit. In the same role last year, Yusmeiro Petit received 10 plate appearances, and while Petit went hitless, Heston is a much better hitter.
As a hitter, Heston has a very sweet swing, and looks like the kind of guy who could at least be a serviceable hitter as a position player. He was a .147 hitter in the minor leagues with two doubles and three RBI, and he showed an even better approach at the plate in 2015 with the big league club. Thrust into the rotation from the beginning of the year, Heston collected 10 hits for a .192 average, while also matching his minor league totals with two doubles and three RBI. Despite having that pretty swing, Heston was not one of the five Giants’ pitchers to go yard last season.
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Barring an injury or massive ineffectiveness from a starter, Heston won’t match the 58 plate appearances he received in 2015, but he should be ready when he gets his chance. It’s also a really big boost when a long reliever knows how to handle himself at the plate. It can keep him in the game longer and save some of the other arms in the bullpen.
Projections:
Average – .222
Doubles – 0
Home Runs – 0
RBI – 0
Runs – 1
Sacrifices – 2