SAN FRANCISCO -- With Rafael Devers still dealing with some left hamstring tightness, the Giants are playing it safe and limiting the three-time All-Star to designated hitter duties to start the season.
Devers got another start at DH against the Yankees on Friday, opening up first base for Casey Schmitt for the second game in a row. Devers missed two weeks with the hamstring issue during Spring Training and has yet to play first base since returning to the lineup. Manager Tony Vitello said Devers could play the field if needed, but the Giants would prefer not to push it this early in the year.
“I think if he had to today, he definitely could,” Vitello said. “I know he'd be willing to. But for us, it's a little bit more about communicating with the medical staff and then ultimately taking that info into our conference room as coaches and deciding what we think is the best move for 162.
“He'll be over there again today with [infield coach Ron Washington], doing some things outside and then ground balls. If we thought that was our best lineup with him over there, and it was a playoff game, I think we'd do that. But for now, we have a little bit of the future in sight for him.”
Jerar Encarnacion will also be an option to fill in at first base while Devers is hampered, but Vitello said the Giants believe Schmitt is more advanced defensively at the position. Still, Schmitt is a natural third baseman who has appeared in only 19 games at first base in the Majors, so he’s a bit of a newbie there, too.
“I think Jerar is definitely a possibility,” Vitello said. “The best thing about Jerar is I think he's got an extra sense of motivation to improve at that position. Casey right now is probably a little ahead of him defensively, but with his work and how big of a target he is, he's certainly an added weapon at that position.”
Luis Arraez primarily played first base over his two seasons with the Padres, but he decided to sign a one-year, $12 million deal with the Giants because they were willing to give him a chance to play second base. Arraez has been viewed as a defensive liability at second, where he’s logged -35 Outs Above Average (OAA) since 2023, the second-worst mark in the Majors behind Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, but he’s been working with Washington to improve with the glove this year.
Putting Schmitt at second and Arraez at first would probably give the Giants a stronger defensive alignment on the right side of the infield, but the club believes Arraez deserves a shot to re-establish himself at his natural position.
“I think Arraez is about as quick as anybody to do whatever you ask of him, regardless of where it's at in the lineup,” Vitello said. “He fully knows at some point this year he'll be called upon to play first base. But for now, we’re rocking and rolling with what we see is the best for today.”
Birdsong undergoes Tommy John surgery
Hayden Birdsong wasn’t around to watch the Giants’ 7-0 Opening Night loss to the Yankees on Wednesday, as he was in Dallas undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery with Dr. Keith Meister.
Birdsong is expected to return to Arizona later this week to begin his rehab, which will keep him off the mound until 2027.