SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Walking on the field at Scottsdale Stadium bright and early on Monday morning, Hunter Pence was immediately transported to his days as a player.
“It’s a magical feeling for me,” he said. “Especially when it’s quiet first thing in the morning, and then when the fans bring their energy, it’s special.”
This season, Pence returned to Arizona for 10 days not as a player, but as a guest instructor and soon-to-be broadcaster for the Giants.
“[President of baseball operations] Farhan [Zaidi] just gives the open door to come out, talk baseball, and work with the guys,” Pence said. “Hopefully, I’ll get to call a couple games here as well to get practiced up and see the guys, and what I love to do, which is to be around the Giants and baseball.”
Pence is joined by Barry Bonds, who was also invited to camp to give advice to some young players.
The love for Pence is still strong, as fans cheered for him as he walked on the field for Tuesday's batting practice.
It’s easy to see why.
Pence won two World Series championships with San Francisco (2012 and ‘14) and he was a four-time All-Star during his career with Giants, Astros and Rangers.
The former outfielder got straight to work on his second day of camp, watching workouts and meeting some of the Giants’ latest additions to the roster. Among the players he has spoken to this week are Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee.
Chapman and Pence are no strangers, having played against each other in the 2019 All-Star Game.
“Having him around, just a guy who has had a lot of success in the Major Leagues, I think is cool,” Chapman said. “He’s been in our shoes and knows how to handle certain situations and just talk about the game, and winning attitude. … I think being able to pick his brain about things like that is cool.”
Pence was also impressed with what he saw on his first day at camp during batting practice on Monday and later in the Giants’ 12-9 win against the Royals.
“The Giants brought the bats out and you’re seeing all that good work they're putting in the cage,” Pence said. “Getting to listen to [hitting coach] Pat Burrell and a lot of stuff he’s doing, he’s just an absolute baseball genius if you ask me.”
In addition to catching up with current Giants, Pence also had the opportunity to reunite with former teammate Pablo Sandoval.
Once Pence was finished watching batting practice on Tuesday, he heard the familiar chants.
“Hunter! Hunter! Thank you! Could you sign this for me?”
Pence made his way over to the netting by the dugout and happily obliged, signing one fan's Giants’ Hawaiian shirt. He continued signing for several minutes before making his way back to the cage to return to work.
“It means the world to me,” Pence said. “I definitely feel overwhelmed with love and just appreciate the support. I love this organization, the fan base, the city as well.”
Harrison, Rogers pitch
Kyle Harrison and Tyler Rogers were absent from the game against the Dodgers. Instead, they pitched in a Minor League game.
Harrison is projected to pitch against Los Angeles in the first week of the season, prompting San Francisco manager Bob Melvin to make the call to have Harrison work on the Minor League side.
Miller remains on the radar
It was announced on Monday that left-hander Erik Miller was among the 11 players cut from the Giants’ Major League camp.
Despite being optioned, Miller will continue to be looked at to fill a spot in the bullpen if needed in the future. Melvin said the reason for the decision was to get a better look at other players.
“It doesn’t mean he hasn’t made this team, anything could happen going forward from now,” Melvin said. “That one seems a little bit harsh and early, it did for us as well. In the interim that’s where he is going to be, but we’ll see where he goes.”
Enlow enjoys successful start
Blayne Enlow had a big first Spring Training start on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. In three scoreless innings against the Dodgers’ vaunted lineup, Enlow allowed three hits and one walk to go with two strikeouts.
“I just filled it up and trusted my stuff and we got contact and outs and that’s really just my plan going into it all year, fill up the zone with my stuff and that’s it,” the right-hander said.