Kapler compliments Gonzalez, says he resembles ’80s hitter
PHILADELPHIA — San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler gave outfielder Luis Gonzalez a compliment that old-time baseball fans can appreciate.
“He looks a little more like a throwback,” Kapler said.
Gonzalez, a waiver-claim acquisition in August when he had a bum shoulder, has become a regular in the Giants’ outfield with fellow lefty swingers LaMonte Wade Jr. and Steven Duggar on the injured list.
In many ways, Gonzalez has made the best of the opportunity. He enjoyed his first four-hit game Tuesday, giving him a .347 batting average and .869 OPS, both tops among rookies with at least 100 plate appearances.
“Luis feels more like a throwback ’80s hitter,” Kapler said. “Use the whole field, slap the ball down the left-field line, groundballs that get through the hole, a bunt base hit, maybe a .300 hitter.”
Gonzalez hit .368 in May — just two National Leaguers had a higher average, New York’s Luis Guillorme and St. Louis’ Paul Goldschmidt — and has been especially productive with men on base (.409) and runners in scoring position (.435).
“It’s exciting,” Kapler said. “The more the track record he has, the longer the stretch of good performance, the more dependable he becomes, the more likely we have not just a fill-in outfielder this year while LaMonte Wade Jr. is down, but a guy we can count on going forward, not just in ’22 but in years to come.”
Gonzalez went 0-for-3 Wednesday.
Ramos demoted: Gonzalez, 26, has been producing, but another Giants outfielder has been scuffling. A day after highly touted prospect Heliot Ramos was promoted to the majors to replace Darin Ruf (bereavement list), the 22-yearold was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
The Giants also optioned outfielder Stuart Fairchild and called up third baseman Jason Vosler and reliever Sam Long. Vosler started at third base and went 1-for-2 with an RBI double Wednesday with Evan Longoria mending a sore shoulder. Long provided bullpen depth after the Giants used seven relievers Tuesday.
Instead of returning to Triple-A Sacramento, Ramos might accompany the team to Miami for the weekend series. He could return to the roster if someone goes on the injured list.
“Lot of balls in the air, and I would say Heliot is one of those,” Kapler said.
Ramos was hitting .200 at Sacramento with 45 strikeouts in 155 at-bats but had a couple of encouraging games before joining the Giants. Work with River Cats batting coach Damon Minor has Ramos feeling better at the plate.
“It was a tough month and a half, and I was trying to figure out how my body was supposed to move,” Ramos said. “Now I have a pretty good idea how to do it. I was tightened up too much and didn’t have space for my hands. Just opened up a little bit and tried to be more free to see the ball, hit the ball and not think too much.”
Ramos went 0-for-3 Tuesday but hit one ball to the wall in center field, traveling 400 feet at 106 mph off the bat.
“Right now, my swing is great,” Ramos said. “It’s just my mind and being able to just stick with my plan.”