Baseball is back!
Although it's only spring training, and these games don't have any impact on how this upcoming season will go, it still is an important stretch for the Giants.
Most notably, this spring is about getting some of their upper-tier prospects a long look. It's also about getting guys like Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger, who didn't play much if at all in 2022, the work they need to be ready for the regular season.
Two of the younger guys who stuck out this first weekend have been Casey Schmitt and Blake Sabol.
Schmitt hit a no doubt rocket out to left center that almost cleared the berm where all the fans sit. He did it off a pretty established big league arm as well in Adrian Sampson. Then he turned around and made a few jaw-dropping plays on the defensive side. I know it's only one game and there is still a long way to go, but you can't help but get excited when you see a performance like that.
Even the Giants' veterans were impressed with Schmitt's '23 Cactus League debut. Brandon Crawford showed the ultimate respect by saying the 23 year-old is "on another level" defensively compared to other infielders he's played with throughout his career.
Sabol, who was already generating buzz throughout camp since it began, ended his first day as a Giant going 2-3 with two extra-base hits, including a big fly to dead center. The 25 year-old started behind the plate in this one and looked to handle himself pretty well. I mentioned in our 2023 roster preview that Sabol faces an uphill battle to earn a spot on this opening day roster, but nobody is counting him out.
Another thing that could work in favor of Sabol squeezing onto the roster is that the Giants will be without Luis Gonzalez for the next 4-6 weeks with a back issue. If Sabol hits, the Giants will find a way to keep him. He can play the corner outfield spots and could be the third catcher if they roll with Bart and Perez.
LaMonte Wade Jr. is worth noting. A lot is riding on him coming in as the incumbent to Brandon Belt at first base while coming off a really lost season in 2022. He hit a laser out to left center in his second at-bat on Saturday. Wade has been overlooked a lot in terms of importance to this 2023 team but he does hold a big key. Not only is he expected to get the bulk of playing time at first, but he looks like the favorite to bat leadoff when he is in the lineup. To see him go 'oppo with authority like that in his first game should give him some confidence.
Sean Manaea looked solid in his debut Sunday, punching out three in in two innings of work while sitting between 93-96 mph with his fastball. In comparison, he averaged 91.2 during the 2022 season and was around 88-90 at the start of last spring.
I mentioned Manaea being one of five players who could have a huge impact on how this club does. Prior to his rough '22 season, he's looked more like a front-end starter than a back-end. He put in a ton of work at Driveline this offseason to get to where he thinks he should be. He's certainly got as much or more talent than any other starter on the staff, aside from Webb. Good to see some positive progression with him early.
Camilo Doval struck out the side in relief of Manaea. It will be interesting to see how Doval manages the new pitch clock as he is by design, one of the most deliberate pitchers in the big leagues. He managed to get through his inning with no issues though.
Conforto saw his first live action since 2021 on Sunday as well, leading off in the DH spot. He made some loud contact in a couple of his at-bats and winded up 1-3 with an opposite field single.
Other than that, there hasn't been a ton that has stood out from the first two games. We haven't gotten a look at Kyle Harrison yet, but that should be coming any day now. It wouldn't surprise me if he's brought in after Logan Webb in Monday's game.
Comments