Kyle Jensen: This Year’s Spring Training Power Sensation

Though it’s very early in Spring Training, Kyle Jensen is the early favorite for San Francisco Giants’ Cactus League breakout star.

We’re only a week into Spring Training games, but Kyle Jensen already looks like he is going to be the San Francisco Giants’ breakout star of the Cactus League. With so many regulars sitting out because of minor ailments or resting because of the early start date of games, Jensen has made the most of his playing time.

Jensen has appeared in seven games and taken nine at-bats, and has collected five hits. Four of those hits have left the yard for an MLB high-tying home run total, and even his hit that didn’t clear the fence was impressive. It was a ball he hit off the right field wall, and it was hit so hard that he had to hold at first base for a single. He’s also taken four walks, giving him a ridiculous .556/.714/1.889 slash-line.

Among the four home runs, there hasn’t been a cheapie in the bunch. His first on February 24th completely cleared the left field berm at Camelback Ranch. The second on February 27th was a walk-off grand slam that would have easily cleared the huge batter’s eye in center field at Scottsdale Stadium, had it not been hit slightly to the left of it. The third came in his first at-bat the next day and went a long way out to left field, as did his fourth on Friday against Homer Bailey.

Spring Training, especially this early, is a place where a guy like Jensen can thrive and put himself on some radars. Pitchers aren’t working with their best stuff and breaking balls aren’t moving like they’re supposed to. The pitching competition also isn’t the best, with a lot of innings being eaten by non-roster pitchers and guys brought over from minor league camp. A big hitter with a track record for power can feast on Spring Training pitching.

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Jensen fits the mold for “big hitter” and “track record for power”. He’s a large dude, being listed at 6’3” and 255 pounds, and has shown plenty of pop in the past. In the minor leagues, he hit 126 home runs from 2011 to 2015, averaging just over 25 per season, and had a massive year in 2016 with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization.

With the AAA Reno Aces, Jensen hit 34 doubles and 30 home runs while driving in 120 runs in 133 games, which led to his first major league call-up. It didn’t go as planned, with him hitting .194/.265/.452 with two home runs in 17 games.

The Giants have been in this position before, and were in it just last season. Chris Marrero, another well-travelled hitter with big pop, came in as a non-roster invitee in 2017 and made a big impression. He hit eight home runs and had an OPS over 1.000, cracking the opening day roster as the right-handed half of a left field platoon. Things obviously didn’t work, with Marrero hitting .132/.171/.211 in 41 plate appearances before being designated.

The path isn’t quite as open for Jensen as it was for Marrero. There is no platoon spot open for a right-handed hitter, and the lineup otherwise is just about set. He’s played a lot of the corner outfield spots, but as a big leaguer he’d probably be limited to mostly playing first base. It would take an injury, and probably more than one, for Jensen to not only make the opening day roster, but to make the 25-man roster at any point this season.

But there’s almost a month left to figure this whole situation out. Maybe he continues to rake, asks for a release, and another team takes a chance on him. Maybe injuries occur and a spot opens up. Maybe he stays in AAA with the Sacramento River Cats, waiting for a potential call-up later in the year. Or maybe, Spring Training is the last we ever see of him in a Giants’ uniform.

Should he stay with the organization, Jensen would make a fine addition to River Cats’ lineup. He should combine well with other hitters like Chris Shaw and probably Mac Williamson to put on a mighty power display for the Sacramento fans.

Next: Three Standouts from Game Eight

There are many different ways this could end, so let’s enjoy finding out over the next month.