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The Giants entered camp seemingly poised handy longtime high prospect Marco Luciano the keys to the shortstop place getting into the 2024 season. With that being stated, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle just lately indicated that the tides may very well be shifting in that regard, noting that non-roster invitee Nick Ahmed has “taken the lead” within the race to be the membership’s Opening Day shortstop.
Ahmed, 34 later this week, spent the previous ten seasons in Arizona as a daily fixture at shortstop, incomes back-to-back Gold Glove awards for his superlative protection in 2018 and 2019. He’s struggled to remain on the sphere lately, drawing simply 264 journeys to the plate between the previous two seasons, and in that point slashed a paltry .216/.258/.332. Tough as his final two seasons have been, Ahmed’s non-roster cope with the Giants got here with the chance to earn a daily function in San Francisco, and the veteran has made probably the most of that chance by slashing an unbelievable .556/.667/1.222 in his 12 journeys to the plate this spring with out recording a strikeout throughout his 4 appearances.
Luciano, in contrast, has hit a paltry .071/.188/.071 in six video games this spring, hanging out in 56.3% of his plate appearances with out recording an extra-base hit. Whereas numbers throughout Spring Coaching have to be taken with a grain of salt for plenty of causes and it’s value noting that Luciano was slowed by a hamstring situation early in camp, it might nonetheless be comprehensible if the Giants felt that Luciano’s weak outcomes this spring indicated that the 22-year-old wants extra improvement time on the Triple-A stage. Luciano made his massive league debut with San Francisco final 12 months however struggled on the plate in his cup of espresso, hitting simply .231/.333/.308 with a 37.8% strikeout charge in 45 journeys to the plate.
Extra from across the NL West…
- Padres star Manny Machado is a “fairly secure” wager to be restricted to DH duties in the course of the Korea Sequence in Seoul later this month, supervisor Mike Shildt just lately informed reporters (together with Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune). Machado underwent elbow surgical procedure again in October and is coming off a relative down season by his requirements, having slashed “simply” .258/.319/.462 with a wRC+ of 114, a step down from the 140 wRC+ he posted throughout the earlier three seasons. With Machado possible restricted to DH at-bats to open the season, the Padres seem more likely to depend on a utility fielder like Matthew Batten or Eguy Rosario on the sizzling nook to open the season.
- Sticking with the Padres, Acee additionally stories that right-hander Glenn Otto, who the membership claimed off waivers from the Rangers again in September, got here out of the offseason more likely to compete for a spot within the membership’s rotation this spring however has been sidelined throughout camp by a teres main pressure. Acee notes that he’s “progressing” towards a return to the mound however doesn’t elaborate on what the righty’s timetable for return is. Otto, who will have fun his twenty eighth birthday tomorrow, was a fixture of the Rangers rotation again in 2022 with a 4.64 ERA in 27 begins however has usually struggled within the majors with a profession 5.62 ERA and a stroll charge north of 10%.
- Whereas Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen left yesterday’s game after being struck within the torso by a comebacker, supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters (together with ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez) that the veteran had averted a significant harm from the incident. Treinen was identified with a bruised lung, which Roberts added must be healed inside three to 5 days. That leaves Treinen more likely to be accessible for Opening Day as a veteran possibility for the L.A. bullpen alongside the likes of Ryan Brasier and Daniel Hudson. Treinen has spent nearly all the previous two seasons on the sidelines however owns a profession 2.86 ERA and posted a 1.99 determine as just lately because the 2021 season.
- Sticking with the Dodgers, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya notes that right-hander Brusdar Graterol won’t be becoming a member of the Dodgers for the Korea Sequence in Seoul later this month, as he’s been sidelined a lot of the spring by hip tightness and shoulder soreness, although Graterol downplayed the latter situation to reporters just lately. Graterol added in dialog with reporters (together with Ardaya) that he figures to renew throwing on Tuesday and hopes to be prepared to hitch the Dodgers in time for his or her stateside opener towards the Cardinals on March 28. Graterol was one of many membership’s best relievers final season, pitching to a sensational 1.20 ERA in 68 appearances.
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