With their consistent struggles at the plate, the Giants have seemingly decided to try injecting some life into the batting order with a few Triple-A call-ups. After promoting the versatile OF/INF Orlando Calixte on Tuesday, the Giants are bringing up another outfielder in Austin Slater according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
I’m hearing that the Giants are purchasing the contract of Stanford product Austin Slater and he’s traveling with the club to Philadelphia.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) June 1, 2017
The former Stanford product was drafted by the Giants in the eight round back in 2014, and has spent the 2017 season so far with the Sacramento River Cats. Slater is hitting .322/.381/.460 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 174 at-bats so far this season. His call-up may mean that Gorkys Hernandez, Aaron Hill and/or Justin Ruggiano are somewhat expendable now, so one or two of them may be designated for assignment.
Slater primarily plays left-field and second base, and with the Giants struggles to find an everyday LF, Slater could very easily play himself into a starting gig. With the Giants sitting at 22-33 and trailing the NL-West leading Dodgers by 11 1/2 games, it seems like manager Bruce Bochy may be more willing to try out some young talent and give guys like Slater an opportunity to prove that they can be consistent contributors.
He is the first member of the Giants’ 2014 draft class to reach the major leagues.
