Panik continues to rake at plate in camp

After injury-plagued '18, second baseman has 1.169 OPS in Cactus play

March 17th, 2019

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants second baseman  appears intent on putting his disappointing 2018 season behind him.

Panik continued his torrid start to the spring by going 3-for-3 with a walk in the Giants’ 10-3 win over the Padres on Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium. He is now batting .517 (15-for-29) with a 1.169 OPS over 11 Cactus League games. It’s an encouraging showing from Panik, who posted a career-low .639 OPS in an injury-shortened season last year.

“He looks good, doesn’t he?” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Joe can hit. He was dealing with a lot of nagging injuries, but he has really taken upon himself to get himself in the best shape that he can be in. He’s moving around better. He’s lost some weight. He’s using the whole field. I’m excited about where Joe is at.”

Panik was one of seven Giants to record multiple hits against the Padres on Saturday. Brandon Crawford finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Steven Duggar, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Yangervis Solarte and Mac Williamson added two hits apiece.

“We had the bats going today,” Bochy said. “It was good to get those things going. Even though it’s Spring Training, guys like to get their hits. It does a lot to get some momentum going as far as their swings. Just a good all around day for us.”

Posey update

Posey came away with an RBI triple in the third inning after Padres left fielder Josh Naylor made an unsuccessful dive for his liner to left-center field. After seeing the ball roll all the way to the wall, Posey cruised around the bases and slid safely into third. Posey, who is coming off right hip surgery, caught six innings and is scheduled to start behind the plate against the Royals on Sunday, marking his first back-to-back games as a catcher this spring.

Back-end arms ramping up

Left-handers Will Smith and Tony Watson each worked a scoreless inning against the Padres and are scheduled to pitch again on Sunday in their first back-to-back appearances. Bochy said the relievers could throw in a Minor League game or face the Royals in Cactus League play.

World Series throwback?

Bochy had considered starting the same infield the Giants deployed in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series against the Royals on Sunday, but he said he’s likely to sit third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who has played in the past two games. Evan Longoria will likely start at third, alongside Crawford, Panik and first baseman Brandon Belt.

Up next

Left-hander Madison Bumgarner will make his fifth Cactus League start on Sunday when the Giants host the Royals at 1:05 p.m. PT at Scottsdale Stadium. He will be opposed by Kansas City right-hander Brad Keller.