Hot-hitting prospect finally gets call
PHOENIX >> In need of an injection of energy and offensive firepower, the Giants on Monday called up their hottest-hitting prospect from Triple-A Sacramento.
Infielder David Villar, whose 21 homers lead the Pacific Coast League, was promoted ahead of the Giants' series opener with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Villar, 25, was San Francisco's 11th-round pick in the 2018 MLB draft.
“It was just utter shock,” Villar said of his reaction upon receiving the news.
Villar wasted little time making a dazzling debut as he hit the first pitch he saw from Madison Bumgarner off the top of the fence in right field for a double. Villar then ripped an RBI single in his next at-bat while going 2-for-4.
Villar's promotion was part of a series of roster moves the Giants made Monday as the team also recalled righthander Mauricio Llovera from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned righties Sean Hjelle and Yunior Marte.
The move is a reflection of the big league club's ongoing struggles but also the impressive résumé of Villar ever since he was drafted out of the University of South Florida. Villar hasn't posted an OPS lower than .755 at any minorleague level, but he has taken it to a new level this season.
“At some point, you start to do a disservice to a player ... by not at least presenting the initial opportunity,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said, indicating this may not be a shortterm call-up. “I think when they're producing like David
has over the last few years, you begin to think, well, what do I have to do to get my opportunity? So I think a move like this satisfies that.
“I also think strategically it has a chance to help us win a baseball game today. Taking that a step further, sometimes you kind of inject fresh, young, productive energy into a group and that can have a ripple effect and a compounding effect.”
Triple-A manager Dave Brundage called Villar into his office after Sacramento's game Sunday night, but he only arrived in Arizona shortly after noon on Monday. Before he could make his MLB debut, he had to overcome a flight that was canceled as it sat on the runway. Villar was running on about two hours of sleep in the past 24 hours, he said.
Villar also had to overcome a couple confusing moments in his conversation with Brundage.
“He asked if my arm was OK, which I found kinda
weird,” Villar said. “Then he told me I wouldn't be joining the team on the Salt Lake flight, that I'd be flying to Arizona. I really had no idea why I was flying to Arizona. I didn't know the big league club was here . ... I didn't sniff anything. I didn't have any hints. When I came out of the office I was bombarded with hugs and cheers. It's a feeling I'll never forget.”
With a 1.042 OPS — second in the PCL — Villar has asserted himself among the Giants' most promising prospects, despite receiving little recognition before this season. Villar only appeared in San Francisco's Top 30 prospects according to Baseball America in its midseason update, checking in No. 29, and he is absent from MLB. com's Top 30.
In 229 at-bats this season, Villar has more home runs than in any of his three previous full minor-league seasons.
“Just constant adjustments and not settling for what I was doing last year, just trying to be better every single year. More important every single day,” Villar said. “It was just how can I help Sacramento win. Now that I'm up here it's how can I help San Francisco win.”
The Giants' offense is in need of the infusion.
San Francisco has now lost 11 of its past 14 games, including a 2-6 home stand, and is averaging 4.0 runs per game over that stretch — inflated by one 12-run outburst and another of nine runs.
“Anxious to see if he's able to maintain the production that he's had in the minor leagues at the major-league level,” Kapler said. “Not expecting that he steps right in and puts up a 1.000 OPS immediately, but definitely excited to see what he's capable of.”
Villar has primarily played third base, but he started to get action at second base this season. That is where he is most likely to see playing time at the moment with the Giants, who at least for one more day are without Thairo Estrada (COVID IL) and Brandon Crawford (left knee inflammation).
Villar started working at second base last season, “so I had a leg up on the competition. That way I wasn't caught off guard.” This year, he's learned from working with coaches Ron Wotus and Jolbert Cabrera and watching natural second baseman Donovan Walton and Isan Diaz.
“It's been great to see all the hard work I've put in, not just this offseason but every offseason,” Villar said. “What I've been working toward is this goal, to get here now and to stay.”