By Joe Ritzo
With only two weeks until San Francisco’s opening day, here are several player updates on the former San Jose Giants at spring training:
Last week saw multiple players sent down to minor league camp as the organization continues to move closer to solidifying the opening day roster. The former SJ Giants reassigned included infielders Chris Dominguez, Adam Duvall and Nick Noonan, outfielders Gary Brown and Roger Kieschnick, catcher Andrew Susac and pitchers Mitch Lively and Hunter Strickland. Noonan and Kieschnick were the only members of the group that were serious contenders for spots on the opening day roster. Noonan, who made the team coming out of camp last year, is 6-for-23 (.261) this spring with two doubles and an RBI. The former first round draft pick has played exclusively second and third base this spring and will likely see significant time at both positions in Fresno to open the season. Meanwhile, Kieschnick has struggled to a .172 batting average this spring. He’s struck out 13 times in 29 at-bats and has yet to produce an extra-base hit. Like Noonan, Kieschnick made his major league debut last season, but will open the 2014 campaign in Fresno.
Among the other reassigned hitters, Brown and Susac received the most playing time. Brown is 5-for-18 (.278) with two RBI’s and two stolen bases this spring. Look for the speedy center fielder to once again play everyday in Fresno as he attempts to bounce back this season. Susac made a positive impression in big league camp going 4-for-15 (.267) with two doubles, a home run, five RBI’s while also drawing four walks. The former San Jose catcher clubbed a home run last Thursday against Texas as part of a 2-for-2 day at the plate. After a solid 2013 campaign in Richmond followed by an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League, Susac enters this year with high expectations as he likely heads to Triple-A.
Dominguez (3-for-10. 2 RBI), Duvall (2-for-8, HR, RBI) and Lively (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R) received sparse playing time in big league spring games before going down. Strickland, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, has not appeared in a game this spring.
Entering this week, San Francisco has 42 players still in camp, 18 of which are former San Jose Giants. The core group of 10 former San Jose players (Belt, Bumgarner, Cain, Crawford, Lincecum, Posey, Romo, Sanchez, Sandoval, Vogelsong), of course, will be on the opening day roster in two weeks. Eight other former SJ Giants remain in big league camp with hopes of beginning the season in San Francisco:
* Ehire Adrianza: .214 AVG (6-28), 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI
– The shortstop has had some big extra-base hits this spring, including his second home run last Tuesday against Cincinnati. Adrianza though has just two hits in his last 14 at-bats spanning six games. The competition for the final infield spot (with Tony Abreu and perhaps Brandon Hicks) could go down to the final days of camp.
* Jake Dunning: 6 G, 1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 1 R, 4 BB, 3 SO
– The former San Jose closer has allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings this spring spanning six relief appearances. Dunning, who pitched in 29 games with San Francisco last season (2.84 ERA), remains a serious contender for one of the open bullpen spots.
* Edwin Escobar: 4 G, 3 GS, 5.19 ERA, 8.2 IP, 5 R, 8 BB, 3 SO
– Escobar’s third start of the spring came last Saturday against the Mariners and the left-hander struggled a bit yielding four runs (all earned) on five hits over 2 2/3 innings. Prior to that outing, Escobar had surrendered just one hit in his first six innings. A spot in Fresno’s starting rotation to open the season seems probable for Escobar with the opportunity to debut in “The Show” later in the year.
* Heath Hembree: 5 G, 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 SO
– Hembree has now worked three straight hitless outings, retiring all nine batters he’s faced in the process. Overall this spring, Hembree has allowed just one hit in four innings. Along with Dunning, Hembree is a leading candidate for the final couple of bullpen spots on the roster.
* Derek Law: 4 G, 2.45 ERA, 3.2 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 SO
– Last year’s San Jose closer has made a positive impression this spring after his breakout 2013 season. Law did give up a run in his lone inning last Saturday versus the A’s, but has still allowed only one hit in four innings overall. Law and Escobar are the only remaining 2013 San Jose Giants still in big league camp.
* Mark Minicozzi: .226 AVG (7-31), 2 HR, 2 RBI
– The feel-good story of camp this year after his two early home runs, Minicozzi has slumped of late with just one hit in his last 17 at-bats. Minicozzi has played exclusively first base this spring – perhaps a sign of his role in Fresno to begin the season.
* Juan Perez: .325 AVG (13-40), 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB
– Perez continues to impress in his bid to win the fifth outfielder job coming out of camp. Last Saturday against the Mariners, he was 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and a stolen base.
* Dan Runzler: 5 G, 2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 SO
– A non-roster invitee, but with substantial big league experience, Runzler is looking for a bounce back 2014 after struggling in Triple-A a season ago. The hard-throwing lefty has not allowed a run in four out of his five relief appearances.
Entering Monday, the Giants are 11-7-1 through 19 Cactus League games.
