Spring training clubhouse feels different this year
Roster younger and more diverse
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. >> The San Francisco Giants' coaching staff got older and whiter, but their clubhouse is younger and more diverse than ever.
The club has gone from one interpreter — Erwin Higueros, who doubles as their Spanish-language broadcaster — to three, with Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and Japanese first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo in camp. It hired Justin Han to interpret for Lee and Seiya Sano for Tsutsugo, a nonroster invitee.
A game of telephone between the two players and any given Latin member of the clubhouse would involve four languages. Throw in right-hander Kai-wei Teng, of Taiwan, and up to five dialects at any time could be spoken inside the clubhouse.
“I love it,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Our plane and travel squad will probably have a few interpreters and all that. But, you know what, it makes for excitement, especially in a city like San Francisco that's so diverse. It plays well there. And, on top of that, these guys are very talented players.”
With the departures of Brandon Crawford and seven other players north of 30, the average age in the clubhouse is also down.
There are 19 players in their first big-league spring training, and 16 players aged 24 or younger. Last season, the Giants had the sixth-oldest pitching staff, at an average of 30 years old, and the 13th-most senior group of position players, an average age of 28.4 years. On the projected 26man roster entering camp, the average age was 28.5.
Perhaps the most apparent departure from past years, at least upon entering the clubhouse, is that everybody is in one room.
With fewer players in camp (65, as opposed to 77 to start last spring), there is space in the renovated major-league clubhouse for every 40-man player and nonroster invitee. Previously, players not on the 40-man roster were cordoned off into a separate locker room.
This spring, the locker room behind the first base dugout that was home to Giants major-leaguers until their renovated facility opened in 2020 sits empty.
The quarters are a bit tighter than usual, with the roster's service-time leader Alex Cobb the only player with an additional stall. Where Crawford used to own three stalls — one exclusively for his cleats — now belongs to Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn.
There's space downstairs if they need it — four highprofile free agents remain unsigned — and ample opportunities for those already here.
“Farhan's pretty good at acquiring guys and trying to upgrade all the time, so you like to have room,” Melvin said. “But I think the numbers would suggest we're going to be able to take a look at guys in our system and not only that but some of the young pitching prospects in the minor leagues can come up and back up. I think it works out better that way than having a bunch of (veteran) sixth-year free agents who are looking for an opportunity.”
Moreover, it allows the current crop of major leaguers to begin building relationships with those who they hope will make up the next generation of Giants.
“You feel like you're more a part of it,” Melvin said. “Especially with guys in your system, you want them around your big league guys.”