Giants hope to make big play in 2020

Grady Duggan

For the first time in over a decade, the San Francisco Giants will look a whole lot different.

 

Former manager Bruce Bochy will no longer be prowling atop the dugout at Oracle Park and now Arizona Diamondback Madison Bumgarner will now longer be leading the orange and blacks pitching staff. Both played integral parts in all three of the Giants World Championships last decade and both have been constant fixtures for the organization since at least 2007. 

 

It is officially the Farhan Zaidi show. Zaidi, who took over as President of Baseball Operations in November of 2018, has brought in his own guy, Gabe Kapler, to be the new manager of the Giants. It has been three seasons since San Francisco has made the postseason and the organization finally has their eye on the future; rightfully so. 

 

With less than three weeks until Spring Training kicks off, it is time to start looking at the 2020 season and beyond. Unfortunately, following a lackluster 2019 campaign, the Giants front office has made very few moves that would excite the fanbase. 

 

Zaidi has put fliers out on pitchers like Drew Smyly, Kevin Gausman and Jerry Belvins who all have seen little success in the big leagues and have even bounced back and forth from the minors in recent years. Expectations should be wary for those three players. Although these moves present a mundane vibe to the Giants off-season, Zaidi has brought back one fan favorite. Pablo Sandoval, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is returning to San Francisco on a minor league deal. However, he is likely to miss the first part of the season as he is still rehabbing from his injury. 

 

While it can be hard to understand why a new front office would refrain from making transactions that could aid the Giants in being competitive next year, it is all due to the front offices realistic and futuristic approach.

 

They are well aware they don’t have the roster to make a playoff push next year, but they are also well aware that the prospects waiting in the wings have a chance to do something special. 

 

The second overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, Joey Bart, appears to be the next replacement behind the dish for Buster Posey. Bart put up strong numbers in his first full professional season last year despite injuries, hitting .278 with 16 home runs. Next up is Heliot Ramos, the 19th overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Puerto Rico looks to be the next outfielder to roam centerfield at Oracle Park. Ramos put up impressive stats last season with a .290 batting average and 16 home runs, which is not the power you expect to see from your centerfielder.

 

Both of these players have the chance to make splash debuts at some point this season and the opportunity to ignite excitement around the fanbase that has been given little to cheer about this off-season. 

 

Spring training begins on Feb. 22 and the regular season kicks off on March 26. Fans are hoping to watch a competitive team this season but the front office has made it clear that they prefer to have their eye on the future.