Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
There was no public goodbye this time. No speech, no scooter.
Just the third paragraph of an announcement that followed a trade for infielder Daniel Robertson and the return of Sam Coonrod.
Hunter Pence had been designated for assignment. The beloved Giant is no longer a Giant. In a season that has seen a resurgence of hope over the past week, there was no room for a player who is hope personified because hope had not begun to hit.
“It’s a loss. Last night he could not have handled that conversation any more professionally,” Gabe Kapler said on a Zoom call before the Giants tried for a sweep of the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park. “He actually came with a lot of gratitude and said thank you to everybody in the clubhouse and front office, ownership. He came across as super grateful. That’s who Hunter is.”
Hunter is one of the most popular characters in the clubhouse, as well with the fanbase. Countless Giants have referenced Pence as being helpful, especially through the early-season struggles, a player who has seen everything and been everything, from star to contributor to struggling — so quick to help.
Yet, while the Giants spoke optimistically about turnaround potential of Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Pablo Sandoval — three veterans who have indeed turned it around — they spoke more about Pence’s relentless work ethic.
The numbers are less kind than the intangibles. He averaged a 91.5-mph exit velocity last year, which has fallen to 87.6 this year. He is walking less and striking out more. When he does make contact, 59.5 percent of his batted balls have been ground balls, a career worst.
Of course, the old-school numbers — an .096 average with two home runs in 52 at-bats — paint a poor picture, too.
“Through some of these struggles, he’s never lost his his positive outlook,” Kapler said of the 37-year-old. “He’s never lost the energy in the clubhouse and I think his teammates and the coaching staff have really appreciated that.”
Kapler said he was not sure about Pence’s next move, saying he thinks he can still play if that is what he wants to do. Pence was all but out of baseball after his disappointing 2018 season with the Giants, but that work ethic was sicced upon a new swing, and that new swing made him a stunning All-Star with the Rangers last year.
Back injuries stalled his comeback, but the Giants were impressed enough to agree to a one-year deal with their two-time World Series champion.
Kapler brought up Joey Bart and the best conversations that exist in baseball. There is the flip side.
“Perhaps the most difficult part of the job is telling a meaningful member of the Giants family that he’s not going to be on our roster going forward,” Kapler said. “Very difficult conversation last night. Hunter’s meant so much to the Giants and to this community and to this team as well.”