2:42pm: The Giants have formally announced Shaw’s promotion to the Majors.
1:24pm: The Giants are set to select the contract of outfielder Chris Shaw, reports Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter). The 2015 first-round pick ranks as the Giants’ No. 4 prospect on MLB.com’s midseason rankings and fifth on Baseball America’s midseason update.
Shaw, 24, has played both first base and left field in the minors but has played the outfield exclusively in 2018. He’s displayed strong power marks to this point in his career but also demonstrated some concerning trends in terms of plate discipline. Thus far in 2018, he’s hit .259/.308/.505 with 24 homers and 21 doubles in 422 plate appearances, but he’s also drawn walks at just a five percent clip while striking out in 34.1 percent of his trips to the plate.
Scouting reports on Shaw generally indicate that he has significant raw power but limited speed that makes him a questionable fit in left field. But, with Brandon Belt entrenched at first base (Shaw’s best defensive position), the Giants will continue to work on the slugger’s outfield defense.
[Related: San Francisco Giants depth chart]
Shaw’s promotion comes on the heels of San Francisco’s trade of Andrew McCutchen to the Yankees earlier this morning. Between that and the season-ending injury to young center fielder Steven Duggar, there should be sufficient playing time available for Shaw in left field. The Giants will get their first look at how Shaw handles big league pitching while they also evaluate young corner outfield options in the form of Austin Slater and Mac Williamson.
Looking ahead, it’s possible that an arrangement of Shaw, Duggar, Slater and Williamson could see the bulk of the outfield work at AT&T Park down the line, though the uncertainty that comes with that mix makes the Giants a logical fit to explore the market for outfield additions this winter.
Nice, figured they would just let Pence play out the season as sentimentality has been way too important to the Giants over the years. Hopefully this is an indication of things to come when it comes to being overly loyal to veterans.
“…overly loyal to veterans.”
I honestly don’t think that’s true, not in any meaningful way, at least. “Loyal”…maybe – “overly”…nah, not really.
I think it’s just one of those memes that critics of their FO have tossed around for years – to the point that some people take it as gospel. It happens – a lot – in sports, politics, and in plenty of other opinion-filled areas of discussion.
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Good luck to Shaw. The Giants have several interesting options for the outfield, but with Heliot Ramos years away, the less notable players have a shot at the bigs.
Kind like matt Adams
I thought Williamson was concussed and unlikely to be brought up
Mac is still rehabbing from the concussion, apparently. That was a really tough break as he was hitting so well before he ran into the wall.
He ran into a wall literally and figuratively.
Unless he has Bonds like power, I don’t see him fairing well in ATNT. “Raw Power” Lefties usually don’t fare well here, and the PCL really inflates his minor league numbers. Wish we would use him as a trade chip for a more defense-obp kind of guy who could hit lead off.
I think The Giants do see Shaw as a potential trade chip. as well as a potential Giant. The risk here is, if he struggles badly in his Sept debut, that could hold down his trade value – at least for this offseason.
He has intriguing power – but right now, the rest of his game (OBP/K’s/defence) leaves something to be desired.
Congrats Chris. I worked with your parents in Lexington and remember you around the office as a child. Very happy to see you pursuing your dreams.
Sounds like a poor mans Joey Gallo.