SAN FRANCISCO — There’s the slugger expected to hold down the position every day, the top prospect who plays the spot but was sent to the minor leagues and the free agent addition who spent most of his time there the past two seasons.
None of them started for the Giants at first base their first two games of the season.
“For now, rocking and rolling with what we see is the best for today,” said manager Tony Vitello, whose infield featured utility infielder Casey Schmitt at first base again Friday against the Yankees, with Rafael Devers limited to designated hitter for a second straight game.
Schmitt has started the Giants’ first two games at first despite having less experience at the position than Luis Arraez, who was signed to play second base. Schmitt, a natural third baseman, is considered a stronger defender at second, but Arraez has said he was assured he would get the chance to play the position when he signed a one-year, $12 million contract as a free agent this winter.
Arraez hadn’t played second regularly since 2023 because of concerns about his defense, but he reiterated to The California Post on Friday that he is “100%” committed to playing second.
“That’s why I signed here,” he told The Post.
Vitello said Arraez “fully knows at some point this year he’ll be called upon to play first base.”
Despite Devers’ limitations as he deals with a lingering hamstring issue and the decision to send top prospect Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A, now apparently wasn’t that time.
“I think Arraez is about as quick as anybody to do whatever you ask of him, regardless of where it’s at in the lineup,” Vitello said.
Schmitt was left as the Giants’ best option at first with Eldridge, a 21-year-old considered among the best first base prospects in the game, beginning the season in Triple-A (where he homered in two exhibitions following the decision). Jerar Encarnacion, another right-handed option on the bench, would be a downgrade defensively, Vitello said.
“The best thing about Jerar is I think he’s got an extra sense of motivation to improve at that position,” Vitello said. “Casey right now is probably a little ahead of him defensively.”
The Giants believe Devers can be an above-average defensive first baseman, but they are exercising caution with hamstring tightness that cropped up midway through spring training.
Devers has played the field just once — in a March 13 exhibition — since he was scratched from their Feb. 27 spring game with tightness in his left hamstring. He went through pregame drills at first base before Friday’s game against the Yankees.
“I think if he had to [play the field] today, he definitely could. I know he’d be willing to,” Vitello said. “But for us it’s a little bit more about communicating with the medical staff and ultimately taking that info into our conference room as coaches and deciding what is the best move for 162. … If we felt that was our best lineup with him over there and it was a playoff game, I think we’d do that.”
While the discomfort has “faded” and is “definitely a completely different deal from when we were in Arizona until now,” according to Vitello, Devers is still feeling the hamstring tightness “a little bit.”
“Just making sure that we’re setting him up for success down the road,” Vitello said. “I’m not a big fan of the ole two steps forward, one step back.”
Giants starting rotation plans
Buster Posey opted not to get creative with the Giants’ Opening Day roster, despite the team having two days off within the first five days of the season.
Where the Giants might take advantage of the unique schedule is with their starting rotation. Tyler Mahle will start the final game of this series Saturday, but the Giants could skip Adrian Houser or Landen Roupp in favor of Logan Webb and Robbie Ray a second time through.
Webb could start on regular rest in the first game of the Giants’ series against the Padres, with Ray going on regular rest to close the series Wednesday. Either Roupp or Houser would likely make their season debut in the middle game of the set Tuesday.
“We don’t have a traditional start [to] the season, five days in a row, so just line up your guys the way you want,” Vitello said. “There’s a good chance we mix and match a little bit different with those first five guys because of the extra off days.”
Hayden Birdsong has surgery
The operation to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in Hayden Birdsong’s right elbow took place Wednesday, the Giants announced. Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure, which the club said was a success. Birdsong, 24, will begin the rehab process this week at the Giants’ facilities in Arizona and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
“I was just trying to check in [and] comfort as I’m supposed to be the coach, but Hayden kind of turned into a coach on me,” Vitello said. “Just with some advice and well wishes for the opening series. He gave me a piece of advice I’m going to take more to heart today.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
