We are close to the point each spring where players are reassigned to minor league camp, i.e. the first “roster cuts”. This series has been looking at position players, under the assumptions that the Giants would go a) 13 pitchers and thus 13 players, b) have no full time DH, and c) divide the 13 up as 5 outfielders, 2 catchers, and 6 infielders.
Here are the infield possibilities, noting the starters have been pretty clear since Arraez was signed, and (alas) include no actual home-grown players:
• starters: 1B Rafi Devers, 2B Luis Arraez, SS Willy Adames, 3B Matt Chapman
• also on the 40-man: Bryce Eldridge (3), Tyler Fitzgerald (1), Christian Koss (3), Casey Schmitt (1)
• non-roster: Osleivis Basabe, Nate Furman, Parks Harber, Jake Holton, Buddy Kennedy
We consider these, as space permits, but start by noting the two reserve infielders are likely to be Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss. The number in parenthesis is the remaining years the player can be sent to AAA, which is certainly a factor as the organization decides what to do.
Note that Roster Resource disagrees fundamentally with 610nm! They go with 4.5 outfielders, 2 catchers, 5.5 infielders, and a DH (Bryce Eldridge). The ½ in that is Jerar Encarnacion, listed as 1B/OF, so they banish Kossie to AAA. It just proves everybody should put their own opinions into the comments!
We’d better start with Bryce Eldridge. He is hitting okay in camp, fielding 1B well enough to draw complements from the announcers at times, and will clearly be on the roster later in the season. But 610nm thinks he won’t be on Opening Day. Remember, he has just 66 games at AAA, is only 21 years old, and that if you keep him, you probably have to waive Jerar Encarnacion without actually knowing if that is wise. JE hit a two run homer on Wednesday that was very important to the victory! But in the end, it could be an easy decision to keep both, if Rafi Devers’ hamstring takes a turn for the worse.
Buddy Kennedy (2B/3B) is a 27 year old, with a 4 year MLB career BA of 0.178. Jake Holton (1B) is a 27 yo who played last year for the Tigers’ AA team. A good depth piece for now, as the organization has been weak at this position. Nate Furman (2B/3B) is 24 yo, working his way up the Giants organization, and played just 9 games last year at Richmond. The last two of these will play for Richmond.
The next two are more important. Tyler Fitzgerald (2B/OF) is a 28 yo who has played for the Giants for parts of the last three years. Being able to play OF as well as middle infield has kept the Giants interested in this guy. Sadly, his bat has been doing a disappearing act, hitting 0.217 last year compared to 0.280 in 2024. Osleivis Basabe (SS) is a 25 yo who has played 31 games for the Rays, back in ’23. He spent last year with Sacramento, where he hit 0.249 in 125 games. He is fielding and hitting reasonably well in camp. He did drop a pop up to the outfield earlier this week that Brandon Crawford would have got, but how many SS’s are Crawfordesque? Both figure to be the middle of Sacramento’s infield.
We end with Parks Harber (3B/1B) who is 24 yo. What a cool name! Harber was included in the Camilo Doval trade to the Yanks last summer, because some Giants scout made sure that Buster Posey insist on his inclusion. He hasn’t yet played in the big leagues, and in fact his highest level last year was Eugene. He’s having a good camp, and surely will start with Richmond and reach Sacramento by the summer. This is not going to be the only time Parks is Picture of the Post.
Of course, you need the batting stats to pick your own 6 infielders. This data includes Wednesday’s game that sent the Giants juggernaut to a 15-3 record:
Basabe 12G, 10-21 (0.476), 4 doubles, triple, 4 RBI
Koss 10G, 8-20 (0.400), all singles, 6 RBI
Arraez 4 G, 4-11 (0.364), double, 2 RBI
Chapman 9G, 7-21 (0.333), 3 doubles, 2 homers, 4 RBI
Harber 14G, 8-25 (0.320), 2 doubles, homer, 4 RBI
Schmitt 12 G, 9-29 (0.310), double, 2 RBI
Kennedy 12G, 6-20 (0.300), triple, 2 homers, 6 RBI
Eldridge 13G, 7-27 (0.259), 3 doubles, triple, homer, 5 RBI
Holton 14G, 7-28 (0.250), double, homer, 8 RBI
Furman 15G, 4-20 (0.200), double, homer, 5 RBI
Fitzgerald 14G, 5-29 (0.172), 3 doubles, homer, 6 RBI
Adames 9G, 4-26 (0.154), homer, 4 RBI
Devers 4G, 0-11 (0.000), 1 RBI and 6 strikeouts
