Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants’ most curious home-opening starter was also the one with the shortest leash.
Joe McCarthy, a 26-year-old rookie making his big-league debut this year, went 0-for-8 with three strikeouts in Los Angeles, a rough start to a career that has been sidetracked so many times by injuries.
The Giants like his patience at the plate and how well he takes walks, but those elements were not featured against high-powered righty Dodgers pitching. The lefty-hitting outfielder, whose ability to play first helped him make the Opening Day roster after Brandon Belt went down, was batting eighth and playing left field against San Diego righty Zach Davies.
The Giants are thin on other lefty options, with Belt out until Thursday, Steven Duggar on the taxi squad and coming off a camp that didn’t impress and Billy Hamilton a late camp arrival who’s still building up. The Giants could trust a righty outfielder against a righty or seek help outside the organization, but they will give McCarthy a few more days to prove himself.
“We made a commitment to Joe when he made our team,” Gabe Kapler said Tuesday over Zoom before the game. “And that commitment was we’re going to give him an opportunity to keep getting back into the batter’s box, at least through the first series and the first couple of games of this Padres series.”
The Padres have all righties lined up in the three-game series. If McCarthy continues to struggle, the Giants would look elsewhere during a 60-game season that does not allow time for much big-league development.
Still, Kapler said he believes in the tools McCarthy brings.
“There’s some assertiveness that we’re looking for that we expect to improve because he’s shown it in the past. And sometimes that’s just getting comfortable in the batter’s box,” the manager said. “… We are looking for the assertive but also patient approach that he’s had in the past. And he’s up for that challenge, and I’m excited to see him perform tonight and another opportunity for him.”
Kapler said they would like to get the called-up Chadwick Tromp one start in this series, which does not feature a lefty opposing starter. He would be a good bet for Wednesday because Kapler has complimented Tromp’s and Johnny Cueto’s rapport.
“He’s driving the baseball but also became a favorite of our pitching staff,” Kapler said of Tromp, who emerged in spring training 2.0. “They like throwing to him. He’s done a nice job of leading that group … with his framing, his blocking and his throwing as well. So he demonstrated that he’s capable of helping us at this level.
“There’s a lot yet to be seen. We haven’t seen Tromp perform at the major league level yet. This is a great opportunity for us. It’s a great opportunity for him, and he has certainly earned it. We’re super excited for him.”
Kapler was brief when asked about Joey Bart, who was not included on the roster because the Giants said they wanted to see more development from him. Unstated has been the service-time worries for the star prospect.
“Things are going well for Joey right now,” Kapler said. “He’s doing just fine.”
Kapler said Austin Slater is “doing better.” After the outfielder sustained a hip contusion crashing into the wall this weekend, he will be available to pinch-hit and play defense Tuesday, but he was kept out of the starting lineup one more day.