SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The San Francisco Giants are starting a new era under manager Gabe Kapler with many of the familiar faces that were part of all that triumph in the past decade.
And an obvious absence: Buster Posey.
The veteran receiver has chosen to exit the season after adopting twins who were born prematurely on July 3.
The Giants are counting on everyone still here to be better in this one-season sprint so that San Francisco returns to the mix as a contender, even if no one else expects it from this group.
“The good thing about this is that we will start this 2020 campaign in a pennant race so that each game has an additional level of importance,” said Kapler.
If the Giants are going to advance after finishing 77-85 last year, it will be critical to keep key players healthy, from Brandon Belt at first base to key starters Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija on the mound.
“It’s a completely different offseason when you’re not fighting injury,” outfielder Mike Yastrzemski said. “It’s great to have guys who are comfortable coming in and not having to worry about spending an additional three hours here every day just to try and make sure they can get out and play.”
BELT HEEL
Belt needed a walking boot and was sidelined early in summer camp due to a heel pain that Kapler did not expect to slow him down significantly.
“The problem we have had in the last two years was injuries, so having everyone back and everyone healthy, we really believe we are going to have a chance to run this year,” Belt said. “It is just a matter of believing it ourselves and going out with the goal in mind of winning baseball games.” I really think we have a good opportunity to do that this year more than in recent years. ”
POSEY MISSING
Rob Brantly and Tyler Heineman are the receivers who will now compete to start after they hoped to fight for the backup job. They both spent most of 2019 in Triple-A.
Posey came swinging from day one of spring training, a positive sign that his surgically repaired right hip was finally healthy again after it bothered him last season. The six-time All-Star had right hip surgery that ended the season in August 2018, then hit just .257 with seven home runs last year.
The Giants will miss his bat and his presence.
OLD STANDBYS
Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval are a pair of fan favorites who returned for another shot at the Giants this year, and their experience was felt at the clubhouse and on the field from day one.
Pence spent a season away from Texas. He hit .297 with 18 home runs, 17 doubles and 59 RBIs in 83 games with the Rangers.
He was part of the Giants World Series champion teams in 2012 and 2014, while Sandoval was the Most Valuable Player of the World Series in 2012.
The Sandoval switch returned to noticeably heavier summer camp after the layoff. He is working back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in early September.
NEW STYLE
Infielder Wilmer Flores will provide Kapler flexibility to mix and match and provide players with key days off, and he is also expected to be a regular player at first base against left-handed pitchers.
San Francisco knows a lot about Flores, who hit .317 with nine homers, 18 doubles and 37 RBIs in 89 games for Arizona last season.
MANAGER TO SEE
All eyes will be on Kapler and how he leads a mix of proven veterans and young players as he begins his first season managing the Giants after two disappointing years in Philadelphia.
Kapler, who was fired Oct. 10 by Philadelphia after being 161-163 with the Phillies, has put the health and well-being of his players first and has vowed to keep everyone comfortable in such strange circumstances.
Follow Bruce Bochy, who retired after 13 years in San Francisco and three World Series championships.
COMPETITION
Teen Marco Luciano made a good impression at camp and showed why he is the club’s best prospect at 18 with a powerful home run hit. The talented international incorporation of the Dominican Republic is not the only young man who attracts attention.
Everyone expected more competition to make the list of spring training months ago, at almost every point on the diamond.
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