San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Hunter Pence, back with Giants, gets hero’s return at FanFest.
Hunter Pence played for the Texas Rangers last season. But for Giants fans, his popularity never waned.
In his absence, it seems to have soared.
Pence arrived at FanFest on Saturday, a day after the Giants announced his oneyear, $3 million contract, and was the most popular guy at Oracle Park, receiving a hero’s welcome. Fans pursued autographs, selfies or simply the chance to welcome the outfielder back to the team.
“Unbelievable,” Pence said with a wide smile late in the day as he exited the stadium. “I’m thrilled to be back.”
Pence hadn’t been scheduled to participate in FanFest, not
without a contract, of course, and yet when he appeared with catcher Buster Posey and outfielder Alex Dickerson during a questionandanswer session inside a huge onfield tent, it was the most wellattended event of the day.
When introduced, Pence got the loudest cheer.
“Obviously, we’re really excited he’s back,” Posey said. “Tons of great memories together. We both still have a hunger and fire to get better. The players and coaching staff, we have a lot of work to do, and we’re excited to get after it.”
Pence, who turns 37 in April, played for the Giants from 2012 through 2018, helping them win two championships, and his departure seemed to be his farewell to San Francisco.
After all, he changed leagues and spent most of his time with the Rangers as a designated hitter.
“Anything’s possible,” said Pence, suggesting he never ruled out a return. “Baseball’s crazy.”
This signing wasn’t just about nostalgia or selling tickets, insisted president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, who cited Pence’s topofthechart stats against lefthanded pitchers. With a new 26man roster, teams have more flexibility to mix and match, and Pence still is a weapon against lefties and can be used in left field.
Pence hit .297 with a .358 onbase percentage, 18 homers and 59 RBIs in 83 games with Texas. Against lefties, he hit .327 with a .378 OBP and stunning 1.015 onbaseplusslugging percentage.
It was a far cry from his stats in 2018 with the Giants, but he redesigned his swing, played winter ball and reappeared a different player.
“When I was leaving, I told them I’m going to go try to change my swing, give me a look,” Pence said of his conversations with the Giants. “I understand last year was a big risk. If I didn’t play great, having to release me. I don’t want to be a weight to any team. I understood that.
“Last year, I didn’t know how I was going to do. It was a completely new thing. It went well. (The Giants) called and said, ‘Hey we like what you did, and we think you’re a good fit.’ I didn’t feel like it was the end.”
Under Zaidi and new manager Gabe Kapler, the Giants will be far more analytically driven, and Pence exemplifies a player who benefited from new teachings and is willing to provide details of his hitting adjustments to teammates who are interested.
“I’m open to share all the information that I have,” Pence said. “Some people might not want it. Some people might want it. I just want to make what’s best for everyone. It’s not like everyone has to do a certain thing. It’s, ‘Let’s give it as much as we can to who’s ready and who wants it.’ ” Posey, for one.
“He’s one of the best teammates that anybody will ever have,” Posey said. “His enthusiasm for baseball is contagious. His season was cut short a little bit with injuries, but he was putting up some big numbers before then, so I’m interested to kind of pick his brain and see what adjustments he made.”