San Francisco Giants: Spring Training Battle

San Francisco Giants: Third base

There must be a high probability that the San Francisco Giants will never field the same lineup in consecutive games this season. There is something in the Pacific air; a west coast trait that is also affecting the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres – Rosters must be filled with interchangeable multi-position players.

You would imagine Tommy La Stella will be a near-permanent fixture in the lineup, after all, he has just signed the longest contract Fahan Zaidi has ever handed out in San Francisco. La Stella will flit between first, second and third, probably spelling veteran Evan Longoria against tough right-handers. With 86 wRC+ against right-handers over the last couple of seasons, Longoria is in need of platooning.

Wilmer Flores has played almost as many games at third base in the majors as he has at first, second or short. The Giants’ home run leader in 2020 is expected to have a bench role, but his 1.433 OPS in spring training suggests the 29-year-old does not want to accept a part-time job.

Donovan Solano (1.329 OPS) is also having a good spring, and although he has plenty of third base experience, he will be vying for starts at second, where he will only be competing for playing time against La Stella and Flores, oh, and Mauricio Dubon as well.

The most interesting name in the conversation is the yet-to-debut-in-the-majors rookie, Jason Vosler. The Giants are getting a good look at the 27-year-old who has seen more than double the spring at-bats than any of the other four contenders. Although he is hitting .313, the 11 strikeouts to one walk suggests he still has areas to work on.

Make sure you check out the Bat Flips & Nerds NL West preview, where the team chat with some of the most respected reporters in the business.

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

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