San Francisco Giants: All-Decade Team of the 2010s

Outfield

Hunter Pence

Another one of the most lovable players that the Giants fielded in the 2010s, Hunter Pence didn’t have the best start to his San Francisco career.

He was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies in the hope that he’d be able to contribute to a 2012 playoff run. The San Francisco Giants were able to capture their second World Series ring.

But Pence struggled mightily — posting a .219 batting average and sixty times in just 219 at-bats.

The following two seasons, however, Pence became one of the top players to lean on in San Francisco. He appeared in all 162 games in back to back seasons, and earned All-Star consideration in 2014.

In both of those seasons, Pence earned MVP votes as well.

The intangibles can easily be lost between the statistics when it comes to Hunter Pence. He was a hustle player that inspired his teammates to compete. He was a key leadership figurehead in his seven seasons with San Francisco.

While his 10.1 WAR is enough to land him on this list, his tenacity in recovering from a scuffling start in San Francisco earns him a place here.

And despite his inability to stay on the field after signing a massive extension, Pence will be remembered as the outfield regular for the Giants in the 2010s.

Angel Pagan

For fans of the San Francisco Giants, Angel Pagan’s impact on the team over the years is probably severely under-appreciated.

Pagan was the quintessential top-of-the-lineup bat that could combine on-base consistency with speed. He was consistently a threat to rack up thirty steals every season and set up the offense for the heavy hitters behind him.

In 2012, Pagan slashed .288/.338/.440 with 38 doubles, 15 triples, and 95 runs. That’s what you love to see in a top-of-the-order bat.

Unfortunately, the one thing that kept Pagan from being at his absolute best was his health.

While his 2012 season was excellent and even earned him some MVP votes, Pagan struggled to stay on the field the next few seasons — averaging just over 100 games played per season for the next four years.

Pagan was a fun player to watch, and the Giants sorely missed him when he wasn’t included in the lineup.

But when he was, he made an underrated offense that much more cohesive.

Aubrey Huff

For the final spot in the outfield, it’s a toss-up between multiple names.

Could you make a case for Gregor Blanco’s consistency? Sure. Could you advocate for Pat Burrell’s unexpected production? Of course. Could Melky Cabrera’s steroid-laden season get him on this list? I guess so.

There are some issues in this selection that go beyond his Twitter tantrums, but Aubrey Huff might be the best choice for this list.

While he was a mixture between a first baseman and outfielder, Huff’s very-early decade production was a key aspect to what elevated the San Francisco Giants to the next level.

Huff was in the twilight of his career by the time he came to the San Francisco Giants in his age-33 season. But he quickly proved that he had some juice left in the tank.

After some disappointing years in Baltimore and Detroit, Huff cranked 26 homers and batted .290 in an offense that sorely needed every bit of his production. That season, he finished 7th in MVP voting.

If it weren’t for that 2010 season put together by Huff — and the resulting World Series victory that would come that postseason — his time overall with the Giants probably wouldn’t be seen as fondly.

But from a statistical standpoint, his 5.7 WAR coming from a single season is hard to argue against.

For that reason, he makes the list.

Honorable Mentions: Gregor Blanco, Pat Burrell, Melky Cabrera