CHICAGO -- The Giants engineered a Minor League move Wednesday that has major implications, promoting slugging prospect Chris Shaw to Triple-A Sacramento from Double-A Richmond.
Giants general manager Bobby Evans said Shaw, rated the team's No. 5 prospect, will play mostly left field, though the 23-year-old was drafted as a first baseman and spent his first two years in San Francisco's system (2015-16) at that spot. This obviously reflects the front office's intent to upgrade the outfield's offensive production, which has been substandard by any measure this year.
Shaw likely will stay with Sacramento through the remainder of the season unless he terrorizes the Pacific Coast League. "We'd like to give him as much time as possible to get comfortable," Evans said.
In 37 games this season with Richmond, the left-handed-batting Shaw demonstrated he had little more to prove in the Eastern League by compiling a .301 batting average, a .390 on-base percentage and a .511 slugging percentage. He also had six home runs and 29 RBIs while dividing his playing time between first base and left field.
"With his bat, you pay attention to it and he's drawing attention," said Evans, noting that moving Shaw to the outfield had been discussed since the Giants made him a supplemental selection (31st overall) out of Boston College in the 2015 Draft.
Since Barry Bonds' career ended following the 2007 season, the Giants have had a different Opening Day left fielder in each successive year. Chili Davis (1986) was the last Giants outfielder to be named a National League All-Star who was drafted and developed by the organization.
Already this season, San Francisco has used seven starting left fielders: Eduardo Nunez, Chris Marrero, Brandon Belt, Jarrett Parker, Gorkys Hernandez, Justin Ruggiano and Aaron Hill.