Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Austin’s name was called Sunday. Not in the way he may have feared.
On a day of changes for the Giants, who officially called up starter Conner Menez and third baseman Zach Green, two moves had to be made to the 40-man roster. His roster spot felt as uncertain as his at-bats the past month.
What could have been a DFA was instead a rare start at first base — and No. 3 spot in the batting order. He was spared, for the day at least, as Derek Holland was the outgoing veteran and infielder Ryder Jones was designated for assignment.
“Would I be surprised if there’s a move made to me? No, I would not be surprised,” Austin told KNBR before going 0-for-3 with two more strikeouts in the Giants’ 3-2, 12-inning victory over the Mets. “This is a tough business. I’m excited to be in there and trying to get things rolling.”
Things stayed static for the frustrated Austin, who has seven hits and 29 strikeouts since May 25. In his past 10 games, he’s 1-for-15 (the one being a home run). Another Farhan Zaidi flier who impressed initially, a power threat from left field and first base who could crush lefties, has faded against righties and southpaws. He was slashing .267/.353/.583 on May 25. He’s slashing .183/.280/.413 today with 55 strikeouts in 122 at-bats.
As Giants fans and players have learned, Zaidi has a notorious trigger finger that drops any talent for more intriguing talent quickly. The Giants called up righty Austin Slater, who was showing promise at Triple-A Sacramento, at the beginning on the month, and he’s absorbed and ran with many of the at-bats once earmarked for Austin.
But Zaidi apparently has not seen enough of (Tyler) Austin just yet.
“I haven’t performed the way I’m capable of performing ultimately,” said Austin, who hasn’t had a sit-down with Zaidi or Bruce Bochy about his playing time. “There’s really nobody who needs to talk to me about my role here. Come in and play against lefties, occasionally pinch-hit against righties. That’s the way it is.”
He talks simply about a job that gets harder the worse he plays. At-bats are more difficult to come by for a player who isn’t showing he deserves at-bats. The Giants want him to hit lefties, and he did when he arrived from Minnesota. His batting average is down to .213 against southpaws this season.
“From time to time you catch yourself when you’re not playing — when you’re trying to do more to get in the game. I think that’s the way it is for anybody,” said Austin, who’s 27 and out of minor league options. “You try to do more than you’re capable of doing in that moment. And you spiral. For me, I just try to stick to my routine and do what I always have done. And hopefully at some point things will change.”
The question is how long Zaidi can wait for them to change before he makes a change.
“There are spurts here and there where things go great,” Austin said. “And then it feels like you take three steps back. It’s weird, it’s different, it’s tough.”
