Spring Training 2025

[tzill]

 

[LHG]

Spring training hot take:

Tom Murphy will be injured for much/all of spring, Sam Huff will get dfa'd and Max Stassi makes the team as the backup out of camp.

 

[tzill]

Sean Hjelle's quietly solid season last year was due in part to improved control. Not surprisingly, he also kept the ball on the ground with a 59.0 percent ground ball rate, which was 4th in baseball among pitchers with at least 80 innings pitched.

 

[tzill]

There were some positives in Randy Rodríguez's rookie season such as a 9.1K/9 and 3.34 FIP in 52.1 innings. His biggest issue IMO was maybe an intentional effort to hit the strike zone, leading to too many middle-middle mistakes. If he is able to improve his command and pitch more in the quadrants of the zone, there will be leverage opportunities for him in 2025. Much easier said than done, but he's got a pretty good four-seamer/slider mix, so he has a nice foundation to work with.

 

[tzill]

From the Athletic today, player summaries:

Jerar Encarnacion, OF/DH: In the Giants’ dream scenario, Encarnacion reads from the J.D. Martinez script and becomes a late-blooming, power-hitting force who can anchor the middle of their lineup. But there’s a reason those stories happen maybe once a generation or so. Encarnacion’s tale is remarkable enough as it is: hadn’t played in the major leagues since 2022 for the Miami Marlins, received no Triple-A opportunities last season, signed with Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Mexican League, turned into Barry Bonds while smashing 19 home runs in 26 games there, signed with the Giants, did more Barry Bonds stuff while hitting .352 with 10 homers in 33 games for Triple-A Sacramento, then hit five homers in 35 big-league games, including a game winner. His average exit velocity of 95.5 mph trailed only Aaron Judge, Ohtani and Oneil Cruz among all hitters with at least 50 batted-ball events. Encarnacion is out of minor-league options, so expect him to make the team. It’s not as if the Giants have a wealth of other DH options.

 

[sf1giantfan]

I do want to see more of Jerar this season, hopefully he continues to show he belongs. I think we are set for the season.

Jerar > Rizzo or Martinez