Adrianza surprises in Giants' first live BP

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy used a simple standard to judge Thursday's beginning of live batting practice, with genuine hitters facing genuine pitchers.

Nobody was injured.

"It does tell me that guys weren't overamped and were ready to do well," Bochy said. "Usually you get a couple of guys hurt."

Ehire Adrianza provided one of the session's highlights. Competing for a backup infielder's job, he startled onlookers by homering off Yusmeiro Petit. Adrianza has sparkled defensively at shortstop during eight years in the Giants' farm system, but he'll have to gain competence at second and third base to win a job.

"It's no problem for me to play second," said Adrianza, who has taken ground balls there during the early days of workouts. He said he'll soon begin practicing at third.

Adrianza has no Minor League options remaining, so he'd be exposed on waivers if the Giants attempted to return him to Triple-A. He addressed this situation the way most players do.

"I can't control that," he said. "The only thing I can control is to play baseball."

Rookie left-hander Edwin Escobar yielded a pair of long drives to Michael Morse, including a home run, but looked mostly smooth. Escobar is the most experienced among the Giants' legion of pitching prospects and thus has the best chance of arriving in San Francisco first.

"He has a great changeup, he keeps the ball down and he works both sides of the plate really well," Morse said.

Bochy was enthused about left-hander Jeremy Affeldt, whose 2013 season included a pulled right side, a strained left groin and a sports hernia. Affeldt threw pain-free, prompting Bochy to say, "It was a good day for him."

Affeldt, who pitched in pain throughout 2013, felt enthused.

"If I was flying open [with his front shoulder] or not flying open, it didn't matter," he said. "It felt free and easy and I felt strong."