Giants plan to take long look at slugger Shaw

September 1st, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the wake of trading to the Yankees on Friday, the Giants looked within the organization to find a replacement corner outfielder, selecting the contract of Chris Shaw from Triple-A Sacramento.

Shaw, ranked the No. 4 prospect in the Giants' system by MLB Pipeline, slashed .259/.308/.505 with 24 home runs and 65 RBIs in 101 games with Sacramento this season. He assumed McCutchen's spot on both the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

"It's something that you dream about your entire life," Shaw said of being called up, "and to finally have that vision, that dream come to fruition, I still can't even put it into words. I can't even really recall a lot of what happened right after because it's such an emotional whirlwind."

Manager Bruce Bochy wasted little time inserting the 31st overall pick of the 2015 Draft into the lineup. Shaw received the start against the Mets on Friday, batting sixth and playing left field.

"[Shaw] will get a lot of playing time out [in left field]," Bochy said. "He's a bat that we think is going to play here at some point on a regular basis, so he's going to get a chance to show what he can do up here in September."

With the departure of McCutchen and fellow outfielder (shoulder) sidelined for the season, the Giants are poised to give Shaw regular at-bats in September.

"I'm just going to approach it the same way I've been approaching my everyday work in Sacramento," Shaw said. "Still go up there looking to get a good pitch to hit and just try to hit it hard. Stick with my game -- it's what's gotten me here. I can't really try to vary from that now."

The Giants aren't looking for Shaw's power to instantly translate to the next level. Bochy is hoping Shaw can continue to barrel the baseball, something that has helped fellow left-handers and have success in a spacious AT&T Park.

"I don't want him coming up trying to hit home runs," Bochy said. "Just try to hit the ball hard. I don't want to put that pressure on him. He's a hitter. It's only going to get better with him. This will give him a chance to see what he has to face up here."

Injury updates on Posey, Duggar
was at AT&T Park on crutches before Friday's game. The catcher underwent season-ending hip surgery Monday.

"He's doing fine," Bochy said. "It's good to have this behind us knowing he'll be back sooner than later instead of waiting until the end of the season."

The Giants are hoping Posey will be ready for Spring Training next season. Recovery is expected to be between six and eight months.

Expectations are similar for Duggar, who fielded questions from his locker in a sling Friday. An MRI on Wednesday revealed Duggar sustained a labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, which will be surgically repaired. The procedure has yet to be scheduled.

"I should be normal by right around December, to be honest," Duggar said. "I can do everyday stuff around then. I'll be full go, baseball activity ramped up, 100 percent right before camp starts if there's no setbacks."

Despite his promising season cut short, Duggar was encouraged by his first stint in the Majors and felt he was producing good at-bats.

"Just reflecting back, there was obviously some trials along the way," Duggar said. "I knew that coming into it; I knew I was going to fail. But I felt like I stayed with it and made adjustments along the way. And I really felt like I was starting to put some things together."