San Francisco Giants: 5 Players Most Under the Microscope Entering Spring
After being linked to the Korean infielder for quite a while, the Giants inked Jae-gyun Hwang to a split contract in late January. He will have plenty of competition with so many infielders in the mix, but none of the other infielders will be as closely-watched as Hwang.
There isn’t a lot of pressure on Hwang to perform right away, since he can be sent to the minor leagues and doesn’t require a 40-man roster spot. But he will be under the microscope, especially with a contingent of local reporters likely following his every step.
Hwang, who turns 30 in July, had his best year in Korea in 2016, showing a much more advanced approach at the plate. He slashed .335/.399/.570 while hitting 27 home runs and driving in 113 runs. He also stole 27 bases. The most promising numbers are his strikeout rate and walk rate.
His 2016 strikeout rate was 11.8 percent, nearly a nine percent drop from 2015. His walk rate took a jump, increasing by nearly a percent to 8.8 in 2016.
But now, it’s on Hwang to prove that those numbers can translate to the American version of the game. He’ll have plenty of time to prove himself, beginning in Spring Training.