It turns out the San Francisco Giants’ plan all along has not been to platoon Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson together in left field.
GM Bobby Evans made it loud and clear to Garry and Larry on Tuesday from Scottsdale: We want one of these guys to step up and own left field.
“Yeah, I don’t know that I want both of them to be on this club,” Evans said. “I really would rather one guy take the job and then maybe one of the veteran guys or other non-roster invites to manage so that he’s the second part to the puzzle. In the case of Williamson, he can go down to Triple-A. If Williamson makes the club as the every day guy, then Parker would either have to make the club and be a backup — not necessarily a platoon but a backup — or you’d have to put him through waivers and I don’t see him getting through waivers. I really need him to step up and make this club.”
Instead of adding outfield depth, the Giants opted to take fliers on the infield. Korean prospect Jae-gyun Hwang and former Phillies superstar Jimmy Rollins are going to be given fair chances to establish themselves as utility players.
The 40-man outfield lists Parker, Williamson, Denard Span, Hunter Pence and Gorkys Hernandez as the lone five outfielders, with Mike Morse, Justin Ruggiano and three other prospects rounding out the spring training depth chart.
What about third base? If Connor Gillaspie — or even hotshot prospect Christian Arroyo — beats out Eduardo Nunez, could Nunez move to left field?
“I look at Nunez as our third basemen, but again to your point, there could be some ability to use him in other places,” Evans said. “I don’t necessarily look at him as a guy I want to put in the outfield but I understand the question.
“Where (Arroyo) is for me, in 18 or 20 at-bats is probably not enough for us to say that he’s hitting .500 he’s going to make this club. But if could go down to Triple-A and start the season and get off to a really strong start and we have some potential weaknesses in our lineup and we feel like he can fit, I think that could mean an April or May recall type scenario. I do think he could benefit from a full season in Triple-A in his development. In getting those at-bats, and get that confidence, and see that kind of pitching which you don’t see in Double-A.”
