Bumgarner tormentor Ruggiano competes for Giants’ roster spot
Ruggiano, competing for roster spot, has hit three homers off ace
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It’s one of the tiny joys of spring training: an offseason acquisition enters the clubhouse, he’s had past success against a new teammate, and good-natured ribbing ensues.
But what if you’re Justin Ruggiano? What if you own three home runs in 14 at-bats against a certain Giants left-handed ace? What if your last encounter with him resulted in a grand slam?
Do you even make eye contact with Madison Bumgarner?
“I think I’ll hold off on that,” said Ruggiano, who will compete to make the Giants as a backup outfielder this spring. “I don’t know him that well.”
Ruggiano’s success against left-handers like Bumgarner is the reason he has a locker at Scottsdale Stadium, and it’s little wonder why the Giants brought scads of righthanded bench candidates to camp. Their lineup leans left, and, by the way, so does the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation.
Ruggiano might have the clearest avenue among the Giants’ nonroster invitees to be the No.5 outfielder because of his track record against lefties and his ability to play all three outfield spots. If Jarrett Parker, a left-handed hitter, wins the left field job, Ruggiano could step in and start against some lefty pitchers.
Ruggiano’s bat would be an upgrade as a pinchhitter as well; the Giants have just one pinch homer by a right-handed batter over the past two seasons, and they were so thin on threats last year that manager Bruce Bochy employed Bumgarner’s bat off the bench a few times. Bochy even became the first manager since 1976 to give up the designated hitter when he had Bumgarner in the lineup against a lefty starter for an interleague game at Oakland.
Bumgarner has to like having Ruggiano on his side. The only major league hitter who owns more home runs against him is the Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez, who has hit five in 56 at-bats. Ruggiano is 5 for 14 against Bumgarner, and his three homers have come in three different uniforms: for the Cubs in 2014, the Dodgers in ’15 and the slam for the Mets in an Aug. 18 game at AT&T Park last season.
“I can’t say they’ve been easy at-bats,” Ruggiano said. “They’ve all been a challenge. It just so happens I’ve gotten three home runs off him. That’s not to say I want to make a career of facing him, because he’s pretty darn good.”
Bumgarner correctly remembered that Ruggiano’s grand slam last season came on the eighth pitch of an at-bat. He hit a cutter into the vegetable garden beyond the center field fence, and the slam gave the Mets a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. Bumgarner responded with a home run of his own in the bottom of the fourth, as the Giants rallied to win 10-7.
“I’m sure he sees me good for some reason,” Bumgarner said. “I’m sure I made some good pitches and some bad pitches, but I knew he had some success off me.”
Will Bumgarner break the ice?
“We’ll see,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have to go back and watch the tape before I do anything or not. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other pretty good, though.”
Ruggiano’s slam off Bumgarner came just a couple of weeks after the Mets acquired him for the stretch drive, but he wasn’t in the lineup to face the Giants’ ace in the N.L. Wild Card Game. That’s because he played just four more games for the Mets before going on the disabled list and then undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
The 34-year-old Texas native said he shouldn’t have any restrictions this spring, but Bochy plans to keep an eye on him.
Ruggiano, who has an .865 career OPS against left-handers, is trying to appear with his eighth big league team. He has played for the Rays, Marlins, Cubs, Mariners, Dodgers, Rangers and Mets since his debut in 2007.
He didn’t waste time signing a minor league contract with the Giants, committing early in the offseason.
“The culture that this team portrays from across the field, as a visitor, you see that this organization does it right,” Ruggiano said. “To have the opportunity to be a part of that drew me to them. Aside from that, I really like playing in San Francisco. It’s just great energy in that city and that stadium.”
What about Ruggiano and Bumgarner hitting back-to-back shots? Now that would get AT&T Park rocking.
Rain on Sunday prevented n the Giants from taking the field for the second consecutive day, and live batting practice will have to wait until Monday. But Hunter Pence managed to make some progress.
Pence took 25 swings off a tee and 25 more against a coach throwing batting practice in an indoor cage. He said his strained side didn’t give him any issues, and Bochy expected that Pence would have no restrictions as full-squad workouts ramp up ahead of Friday’s Cactus League opener.
“Good day for Hunter,” Bochy said. “He’s ready to go.”