San Francisco Giants 2017 Position Preview: Right Field
Once owning the most durable player in baseball in right field, the San Francisco Giants have found themselves looking for depth in that position in recent years.
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Once MLB’s Iron Man, Hunter Pence has had two consecutive seasons ravaged by injuries. He played every one of the San Francisco Giants’ 343 games between 2013 and 2014 (including the postseason), his first two full seasons with the club. Over the last two years, he’s taken part in just 163 of 329 possible games (including postseason), or 49.5 percent.
When Pence is in the lineup, he is the fire-starter. Despite looking like he’s never played baseball in his life, he makes the Giants’ offense go. His passion and non-stop energy are irreplaceable, and the Giants’ record proves it. Since acquiring Pence at the trade deadline in 2012, the Giants are 289-245 (.541) when Pence starts. When he doesn’t start, the Giants are 84-89 (.486).
Despite his recent history, Pence is still one of the strongest guys in baseball. He hit 13 home runs, 23 doubles, and slugged .451 last year in 106 games. But his speed on the basepaths has diminished quite a bit. Since stealing 22 bases in 2013, he has stolen just 18 bags over the past three seasons, including only one in 2016. That could be because he and the team were cautious after hamstring surgery, or that he’s just slowing down as he continues to age.
A good sign for Pence and the Giants was how he ended the season. In 30 games during the final month, Pence posted a .307/.373/.500 slash-line with five home runs.
He remains a solid right fielder, and though defensive metrics aren’t as kind to him as they once were, there are no metrics to prove how well he’s come to know the tricky right field at AT&T Park. It’s extremely common to watch even the best visiting right fielders struggle with the huge wall out there, but Pence seems to know it like the back of his hand. That is certainly a big factor for the team. He also still has a quite good arm, despite throwing like he has no elbow.
As long as he’s healthy, Pence will be the everyday right fielder. With the problems with injuries over the past couple years, it’s unlikely he’ll actually play every single day, but a healthy and productive Pence means very good things for the Giants’ lineup.
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Much like last season, Mac Williamson and/or Jarrett Parker would likely take over if Pence were to go down. If Williamson starts in left field, Parker would probably play right. Another option would be to put Parker in left and move Williamson to the other corner, since Williamson seemed to catch on to the right field eccentricities fairly quickly last year.
Gorkys Hernandez played six games in right field last season after a late call-up, and he has the speed to cover a lot of ground out in Triples Alley. If the team is worried about defense without Pence, Hernandez might be the best option.
Justin Ruggiano has the range of a center fielder, and could play as part of a platoon in right field if necessary. He has a great track record against left-handed pitching, so could pair up with Parker in the righty/lefty matchup game.
Michael Morse and Kyle Blanks, two other minor league signings, are probably past the point in their careers where they could handle the big right field at AT&T Park. Neither are exactly burners, and both have dealt with leg injuries in recent years.
One prospect who could play a part is Austin Slater, who was mentioned in both left field and center field previews. Slater has transitioned from outfield to second base, and back to the outfield since being drafted in 2014, but hasn’t played right field as much as the two other outfield spots. But with the range to play center field, he should be an option in right. Hunter Cole (118 games in right field in Double-A last season) and Tyler Horan (213 minor league games in right field) are two other prospects that could get a call this season.
Next: Giants 2017 Position Preview: Center Field
There’s no denying it, the Giants are better with Pence in the lineup. He is their Energizer Bunny, and the best motivational speaker the team has. Things look just a bit gloomy without him.