Giants: Mac Williamson among 15 players sent to minors — Steven Duggar remains.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants made their final significant cuts before they head north Friday. Fifteen players were sent out, including outfielder Mac Williamson, although the real story is one player still here.
Steven Duggar survived the cuts and is one of 31 players, including seven outfielders, left in camp. That means the 24-year-old center fielder has a shot to make the team and defy conventional wisdom that he needs more minorleague at-bats.
“I’m going to have him out there,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re going to see a lot of him.”
Duggar hit an RBI single and made one of the Giants’ best catches of the spring in Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Indians. He raced from left-center to right-center and caught a Mike Napoli drive that right fielder Andrew McCutchen had no shot to run down.
Duggar’s presence adds intrigue to the final days of competition for two open outfield spots. If he wins a job he likely would platoon with right-handed-hitting Austin Jackson, but the Giants have other options.
Two of the remaining candidates, Gorkys Hernandez and Jarrett Parker, are out of minor-league options. Nonroster player Gregor Blanco can opt out of his minorleague contract if he does not make the team, and he has excelled this spring.
Parker, who hit his fourth homer and made a great throw to help cut down a runner Monday, does not necessarily have an inside edge because he lacks options. The Giants could try to trade him or sneak him through waivers before Opening Day if they decide they prefer more athletic backups instead.
Duggar at times has shown he could use more minorleague at-bats. He is hitting .268 with a double and four home runs. But his speed on the bases and outfield play are hard to ignore.
Williamson has batted .318 with two doubles, two triples and four homers. He impressed the staff with his success after radically changing his swing over the winter.
“It’s good to see Mac, the adjustments that he made,” Bochy said. “Spring training is not what you base all your decisions on. We want him to go down and get his at-bats to continue his development.”
Bochy not only suggested Williamson could be promoted this season, but said the 27-year-old could become an everyday corner outfielder. The Giants might have two openings next year if potential free agents McCutchen and Hunter Pence do not return.
Williamson seemed to understand his plight and said the right things, but could not mask his disappointment. A long pause when asked about his demotion gave him away.
When he conjured an answer, he said, “I think this organization does a great job of putting the right guys out on the field.
“I’ve gotten some opportunities in the past. Aside from a few weeks in ’16 when Pence got hurt and I played almost every day then, I haven’t really taken advantage of the opportunities I’ve been given. It was important for me to come in this spring and prove I was worthy of another shot down the line.”
Outfielders Chris Shaw and Austin Slater were among the cuts, which yielded no major surprises.
The other big names to go down are reliever Derek Law, who has no spot in a full bullpen and did not pitch lights-out either, and starter Tyler Beede.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to work on the things they want us to work on,” Beede said. “We’re not all finished products. Even guys who have pitched in the league for 10 years still have things to work on. It’s just a matter of refining my craft and being consistent. That’s the biggest thing for anybody.”
The fight for one backup infield job — Pablo Sandoval appears to own the other — gained clarity with the demotions of Orlando Calixte and Chase d’Arnaud.
Kelby Tomlinson, Josh Rutledge and Andres Blanco are the candidates, with Tomlinson holding a trump card: his 40-man roster spot.