The San Francisco Giants built an interesting even-year winning trend in the 2010s, with World Series titles in 2010 and 2012, winning a National League pennant in 2014, and making the playoffs with a wild card berth in 2016. They broke that trend last year, winning a franchise record 108 games and taking the NL West title. However, they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series after a season in which they defied expectations. The Giants are projected to drop this season, but it is important to note that Major League Baseball is still mired in a lockout, and that not all of the teams had a chance to address their needs via trade or free agency before the shutdown. As you consider MLB Odds, take a look at what we know so far about the Giants’ prospects.
MLB News: San Francisco Giants Season Prediction
Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman turned back the clock to put together a terrific season for the Giants. Some regression was likely, but his departure for Toronto, and his replacement with Alex Cobb, is concerning. Gausman does not have the same history of health concerns that Cobb does, and even a Gausman with a slightly higher ERA would have been better than having to get spot starters to fill in for Cobb. Logan Webb took the ace slot in the Giants’ rotation, and at the age of 25, the righthander is projected to be the leader once again.
As far as relievers go, Camilo Doval is projected to lead the team in saves, with 26. The fastball-heavy reliever will join submariner righty Tyler Rogers and veterans Dominic Leone and Jake McGee, with each expected to throw at least 65 innings this season.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford had the best year in his career in 2021 – his 11th season in the big leagues. So some regression is expected there too, as he is projected to drift back down closer to his career averages. According to FanGraphs, three Giants are projected to hit at least 20 home runs: LaMonte Wade Jr (22), Mike Yastrzemski (24) and Brandon Belt (25). The highest projected batting average for any Giant player is .272 – Wilmer Flores.
One large question mark involves Seiya Suzuki, the pro star from Japan who was posted by the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball before the lockout. He has met on Zoom with team representatives, but he has not yet traveled to the United States, which would be a likely important step before he chose a team. The Giants demonstrated a lot of interest and are reported to be at or near the front of the line when bidding for the right to offer Suzuki a deal opens up.
Suzuki would replace the big bat that Buster Posey took with him when he left the Giants at the beginning of the postseason. In 2021, Suzuki played 134 games and belted 38 home runs, posting a .317/.433/.636 slash line. He walked 88 times and struck out 89, a decent ratio that he has kept during his career. Over nine seasons in pro baseball, he has only struck out 100 more times than he has walked. He has hit at least 25 home runs in six straight seasons, and his career OPS in Japan is .943. His average exit velocity of 91 mph on batted balls would have come in third on last year’s Giants roster.
On defense, he has a cannon arm in right field; if he can hold that position, Mike Yastrzemski could play center more often – and not face as many lefthanded pitchers. Throwing Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Suzuki out there would help the Giants batter southpaw starters. Suzuki is only 27, and putting him in a corner outfield position would allow him to grow along with a lot of the other prospects coming up in the Giants’ system. After being a finalist in the race for Shohei Ohtani, intriguing Yusei Kikuchi and making Suzuki’s short list, it won’t surprise us to see Suzuki in black and orange – once this lockout finally ends.
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