Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
One struggling Giants rookie watched another struggling Giants rookie finally have his moment.
It’s a moment Chris Shaw probably cannot have this year.
“My role is what it is. The expectations are different,” the minor league star and big-league pinch-hitter told KNBR before the Giants played the Rockies at Oracle Park on Thursday. “… I’m incredibly happy for Jaylin. But I don’t look at that and think about myself.”
Jaylin, of course, is Jaylin Davis, whose first major league home run came at an opportune time, a walk-off to beat Colorado on Wednesday. Entering the at-bat, he was 4-for-32 in his first month after his call-up, a 25-year-old who slammed 35 Double- and Triple-A homers and wasn’t yet able to translate.
He got his laundry cart moment, more-veteran Giants pouring all sorts of liquids on him. He got the postgame spotlight and an extra-loud cheer for his first at-bat Thursday, as the Giants are typically starting him in right field. Shaw was watching again from the dugout.
After his well-publicized failure in his debut last season, Shaw worked his way back to the majors, but not to an everyday role. He has started two games, performing well in neither, and has been ineffective as a pinch-hitter. It’s tough to get at-bats when you’re not hitting, and it’s tough to hit when you’re not getting at-bats. Tyler Austin comes to mind.
Shaw admitted it’s difficult, “But it’s my role. I gotta figure out a way to get it done. How that is, I honestly believe is to go about it the way I’ve been going about it. The odds aren’t in your favor when you’re pinch-hitting. You just gotta hope you get that one.”
Davis got his. In 17 at-bats, Shaw has a single single. The 25-year-old has neither earned nor been given the chance to show he’s a part of the team’s future at the major league level. Barring a Brandon Belt trade, it’s hard to find where Shaw would fit in to the 2020 Giants.
Davis has said he was pressing, finally given his big-league shot and wanting badly to impress. Not so for Shaw.
“Absolutely not,” said the 2015 first-round pick. “I don’t think you can possibly view the situation I’m in as there being even a chance to press. Obviously you want to succeed, you want to do really well. I feel good about the quality of my at-bats. I feel a little bit unlucky at times. I’m not driving the ball, I’m squaring it, I’m hitting things hard.”
Shaw slammed one 359 feet Wednesday, which made for a long out. He was due to get a chance before Davis in the ninth, but he was shifted out and Alex Dickerson ended up taking the at-bat.
He was part of the crew celebrating his River Cats teammate amid a second major league stint in which Shaw has had little to celebrate.
“That must have been awesome for him,” Shaw said.