SF Giants
SCOTTSDALE — In a development that screams Farhan Zaidi, the player brought in as a possible solution to the Giants’ center-field void might be their answer at first base.
This offseason, the Giants could have used another center fielder to spell/platoon with Mauricio Dubon, who has a career .681 OPS against righties. In came LaMonte Wade Jr., who profiled better as a corner outfielder but whom the Giants viewed as at least an option in the middle, and an option who can work counts against righties.
And then Brandon Belt got COVID-19, and then he got mononucleosis, and he still has yet to debut. The lefty Wade has looked natural at first, which he’s played in the past, and either he or spring standout Jason Vosler should make the Opening Day roster as a lefty bat at first in Belt’s place.
So the Giants are left with the same outfield conundrum they entered free agency with. Who plays the position if Dubon continues to struggle against righties? Who plays the position if Dubon is needed at shortstop, where the Giants have a “Help Wanted” sign behind Brandon Crawford?
The last two days, the Giants have explored whether Mike Yastrzemski or Austin Slater can solve the equation.
Yastrzemski, the starter on Sunday, and Slater, Monday’s test, made routine plays and didn’t get an opportunity for anything beyond that. The Giants have seen a good deal of the former (and believe Yastrzemski is better in center than the metrics give him credit for) and not much of the latter.
“I thought Slater moved around great,” said Gabe Kapler, who said Slater’s hamstring and forearm are OK, but the fact the manager had to clarify that helps explain why he won’t be a consistent option at the position. “… I think there are some specific demands that come with playing center field every single day, but I think he’s got the physical capability to do it.”
There is less question about whether Yaz can handle it, Kapler saying he would be comfortable playing the more natural right fielder in the middle “without question.”
Of course, there’s another outfielder who’s still in camp who has the “speed, athleticism, explosiveness, instincts” to patrol center, Kapler said. Heliot Ramos has no doubt he’s the man for the job.
The 21-year-old prospect, who has played 25 games in Double-A, is 10-for-23 (.435) with three homers in camp. He continues to put pressure on the Giants to promote him quickly, even if quickly won’t translate to April 1. It was a surprise when Ramos was not technically demoted to a theoretical minor league camp Monday, when the rest of his fellow top prospects got the news.
Giants coaches “just told me they liked me around,” Ramos said before Tuesday’s game against the Rangers at Scottsdale Stadium.
Ramos has had a few adventures in his short time in center in the spring, slipping and dropping two balls on slick grasses. But he appears to have the speed for the position, even at the 230 pounds that he’s grown to. There is some wonder whether he will be pushed to a corner as he continues to fill out, but Kapler said for the moment, he still seems him as a center-field option.
As does Ramos, who is as confident as they come. Does he think debuting in April in the majors is realistic?
“I hope,” he said over Zoom. “We’ll see.”
There are other options to comb through, particularly Steven Duggar, who has shown an improved eye and power this spring so far. But as the Giants cycle through center-field possibilities, it’s becoming clear that Ramos’ time will come this season. But not before Yastrzemski’s and Slater’s.