The lineup

The Giants have the best record in the Cactus League. Too bad it doesn’t count! But I have to take it as a good sign. The team had few questions going into Spring Training and those seem to be getting answered.

The left side of the infield (Willy Adames at SS and Matt Chapman and 3B) will be very strong. Adames isn’t Francisco Lindor but he’s in the top ten of MLB shortstops. Having an athletic fielder at SS who also hits and hits for power is now de riguer for a ballclub. Defensive specialists are lower on the depth charts these days. Chapman is even more elite–certainly a top five player. He’s up there with guys like Austin Riley and Jose Ramirez. Giants pitchers will love these gloves behind them.

Jung Hoo Lee in center field is the next best player on the team. It’s not hard to see him as a 3+ WAR player if he’s healthy. Heliot Ramos had a nice breakout last year and earned himself the starting LF job. The MLB average K% (SO/PA) is about 23%. Ramos came in at 26% last year. Walk rates (BB/PA) average 8-9%, Ramos was at 7% in 2024. So–is he poised to improve or regress? If you can answer that you can have Buster’s job! Mike Yastrzemski, who has been remarkably consistent in his time with the Giants, will be the right fielder. He’s usually easy to project (2+ WAR) but at age 34 time could be catching up with him.

At first base the platoon of LaMonte Wade, Jr. and Wilmer Flores looks great on paper. Mr. OBP and Mr. Lefty-masher should be productive. Flores, unfortunately, had his worst season ever in 2024 on the heels of his best-ever season in 2023. Injuries robbed Wade’s power in 2024 but he maintained his excellent on-base skills. The big question mark is young Tyler Fitzgerald. Like Ramos he had a nice breakout but his high K-rate (31%) is concerning. Both players benefited from some high-BABIP luck that ran out as the season came to a close. Fitz probably has enough power to hold on to his job even if he struggles a bit. He’s the starting second baseman for 2025.

Catching is Patrick Bailey’s bailiwick. He’s a glove wizard but has yet to establish himself as a consistent hitter. He’s looked good this spring cutting down his strikeouts and getting his average up. With Jerar Encarnacion fracturing his wrist the DH slot looks less certain. We’ll probably see a rotation of sorts.

It’s not a lineup that will strike fear in the hearts of opposing teams but it ought to be competent. The NL West is so loaded that getting a playoff spot will be tough even with an improved win total. This team will need to play great defense and get good pitching (that’s the next post).

Check out this nice article about Buster Posey from Alden Gonzalez at ESPN (h/t Baseball Musings). He’s a very competitive fellow, as you would imagine. This isn’t his team quite yet. The roster was mostly built by his predecessor. His first task will be to get the best out of the players he has.

–M.C.