Steven Duggar begins spring training as favorite to secure key job with Giants

Outfielder with minimal Major League experience has big opportunity

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Giants outfielder Steven Duggar has fewer than two months of major league experience and just 141 at-bats to his credit.

He’s dealt with brutal injuries in each of the last two seasons and his playing time has been cut short due to stints on the injured list.

But as position players begin trickling into Giants camp in Scottsdale, Duggar finds himself with a rare opportunity. His manager, Bruce Bochy, thinks he could be the Opening Day leadoff hitter.

“I think you look at the top of the order and that’s the first spot you think about,” Bochy said. “As I say, how they play and how it’s going will dictate where you put them but I think he’s a good leadoff hitter.”

If the Giants don’t add any other outfielders to the roster, the club plans to open competitions for playing time at all three spots this spring. Though the Giants could use platoons in the outfield for much of the year, the hope internally is that Duggar seizes the Opening Day center field job this spring and becomes the every day starter at the position.

After debuting in the major leagues last July, Duggar suffered a shoulder injury diving back into second base on August 28 and underwent season-ending surgery shortly thereafter. Following a long offseason of rehab, Duggar took his first on-field batting practice Friday as he and Ryder Jones (knee surgery) hit the field ahead of other position players who are due to start workouts on Monday.

Duggar only started in the leadoff spot in the order eight times last season, but Bochy said that was because the Giants wanted him to ease his transition to the big leagues.

“We backed him off to break him in last year but I hope he’s ready to assume that role, one of the top two spots,” Bochy said Friday.

Duggar showed off impressive defense in his debut season at Oracle Park last summer and the Giants believe he has the potential to become one of the game’s elite center fielders. Though the left-handed hitter will need to improve his contact rate and cut down on strikeouts, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to stake his claim to playing time.

“The defense, we felt like we’ve really improved there in our outfield and we want to continue that,” Bochy said. “Having Duggar healthy is really going to help us there.”

Duggar hit .255 last year with 11 doubles, two home runs and a .303 on-base percentage.