Third baseman Jae-gyun Hwang suggested in an interview with Korean media that he expects to opt out of his contract with the Giants if he is not added to the major league roster in the coming days (via Jee-ho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency). Hwang’s deal allows him to force the team to promote or release him on July 1st.
There have been indications at times that the Giants would like to see Hwang in the majors, but recent events raise questions about the team’s current intentions. San Francisco promoted prospect Ryder Jones to handle third base, adding him to the 40-man roster in the process. He has struggled in his first three games, but the Giants seem inclined to give Jones and other young players (including, perhaps, previously promoted infielder Christian Arroyo) a chance in the majors with the club buried in the standings.
Hwang, 29, inked a split contract over the winter in hopes of reaching the majors after years of starring in his native Korea. He has put up solid overall numbers at Triple-A, thriving in particular since an early-season swoon. Since hitting his first home run in the middle of May, Hwang has produced at a .287/.348/.566 clip and added six more long balls to his ledger. He has also made strides in the plate-discipline department, drawing 14 walks against 31 strikeouts in that span.
Defensively, the longtime KBO star has plenty of experience at third base. But there were prior suggestions that he might be afforded a chance to increase his versatility by spending time in the corner outfield. That hasn’t been forthcoming thus far — he lined up in left twice earlier in the year — and Hwang has mostly played first base for Sacramento over the last month or so.
Given that Hwang is slated to return to the open market at the end of the season regardless, it’s not clear how much incentive the Giants have at this point to add him to the roster. The organization would need to create 40-man space and also pay Hwang at a $1.5MM annual rate, in addition to any incentives he might trigger.
If Hwang does end up returning to the open market, he’d likely find opportunities with other organizations. While the bat is obviously interesting, though, it’s still not clear whether there’ll be a big league opening for him in 2017. Given his status as one of Korea’s top sluggers, Hwang could also presumably end up returning to the KBO at some point.
If Peralta doesn’t work out in Boston they could add him assuming they don’t just want to throw Devers out there.
Just throw anything against the wall and hope it sticks!
Well that’s what they have to do at this point lol
His defense alone at 3B makes Pablo look like Manny Machado…have fun with that and his nonexistent walk rate!
Are we talking about peralta or hwang
Hwang
Have fun going back to Korea.
Agreed, he’s a hack in the field, invest that spot in a player that will contribute longer to the organization.
His slugging rate on here is a typo…its actually .466…His defense was sooo bad in those two games in the outfield that they stashed him at first base, His defense alone at every position they’ve tried to put him at is really bad. There’s no way someone brings him up unless its strictly as a PH.
Yeah I read he’s a huge defensive liability
I was excited that Giants signed him, then I got to see him a bunch of times at Raley Field and he doesn’t even pass the eyeball test the field
How bad the giants are they should be trading away players to get younger. Sabean never likes to trade away old players always thinking they can compete. The team has gotten very old fast. They have some players that could bring back prospects but that would mean Sabean admitting he failed this year.
the team isn’t that old actually – the median age of a lot of these guys, craw, posey, belt, etc is 29-30 – panik is much younger, it just feels older because there is no real power coming from older positions – like the OF and the bench, most of these guys are mid career but the truth is that a lot of the young guys haven’t worked out or were traded away. I think right now what is going on with the FO is starting to throw young guys at the wall to see if any of it sticks.
Sabean should never have signed Belt to a long term deal. Other than Crawford and Posey the rest should be traded away for younger players. Their outfield is very weak. Nunez could get traded easily right now not sure why Sabean is holding on to him.
Nunez is on the DL but he should be gone not long after he returns, hopefully we can get a little bidding war between the yanks and red sox for him.
Their FO can’t seem to stop hyping the living hell out of every prospect callup, expecting them to magically break through the wall, but getting stinky splatters instead.
“Arroyo/Ryder/a-bag-of-wet-sand will save us!” (later) “…we’re sending you back to Sac, sorry.”
True enough, except Slater. He’s batting like .333.
Bobby Evans has been the gm for a few years now. Sabean is like the president of baseball operations or something I believe. While higher up I don’t believe he controls the roster at all
Hopefully the pirates get in on this guy if he’s released. If he produces well enough, extend him for an extra year and maybe he can keep Kang in line.
Could be an interesting play for the Yankees. Could either replace Headley (as gleybor was going to before his injury) or at least be a bench piece while Starlin is out.
WTF!!!
Call him up already. Giants really would rather have a mike moorse retirement tour than a chance at a somewhat decent hitter. Makes no sense
*Cough Cough*, if he is a free agent, *cough Cough* get him braves.
Why would the braves want him? We have Ruiz, Camargo, and I guess Freddie at 3B already
Freeman isn’t staying at third, and camargo is a bench piece, would not be suprised to see them move Ruiz and some others for a TOR guy.
Do you think they would consider trading this guy for Cody bellinger?
Stop it troll. Bellinger is already better than Belt.
Unfortunately, you’re right
Just wondering
He needs to go to an AL Team where he can DH. While I doubt he lands a major league deal in-season, his bat has every day potential and there are plenty of teams who could use him. I could see KC having a spot for him as a filler bat who they try to trade next July as they begin their rebuild- or any rebuilding team in the AL for that matter.
He’s an affordable bat who can eat up AB’s and possibly draw a decent prospect in return as a rental bat to a contender.
Have they considered trading him? If they’re not going to promote him, and he’s ready to bounce on 7/1, SF should at least get something for him even if it’s a fringe prospect.