SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants don’t have a ton of true positional battles as they enter Cactus League games. The majority of their starting lineup is set. Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong headline the battle for the fifth rotation spot, the former having the edge over the latter.
But the fourth outfield spot? That remains undetermined.
“I don’t really see it as competition,” said outfielder Grant McCray. “We’re all teammates at the end of the day. … So, I’m not looking at them as competition or opponents.”
McCray might be teammates with the likes of Luis Matos and Marco Luciano, who converted from infield to outfield this winter, but by definition, they will be directly competing with one another to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. Jerar Encarnacion is an outfielder as well but the 27-year-old slugger profiles more as a designated hitter and power bench bat. And of those three, Luciano’s case is likely the weakest.
Luciano, 23, told reporters that he has played outfield in the past, but he’s never done so in the majors or minors. Over five professional seasons, Luciano has exclusively played shortstop or second base. Given his lack of outfield experience — Oracle Park’s dimensions aren’t easy for a beginner to navigate, either — Luciano will likely begin the season with Triple-A Sacramento as he continues learning the corner outfield spots.
“I think he’s handled himself great,” general manager Zack Minasian said Wednesday at Cactus League Media Day. “We just want him to be himself: at the plate, in the field, in the clubhouse. I think he’s got a pep in his step. … It’s been exciting and encouraging just to see him around, mixing in with his teammates so far.”
That leaves Matos and McCray as the two leading candidates to secure the fourth outfielder spot. Entering Cactus League play, Matos (121 MLB games) likely has the edge over McCray (37 MLB games) given the contrast in experience at the major-league level, but that could very well flip depending on how the next few weeks shake out.
Matos, 23, entered camp with the momentum of winning Venezuelan Rookie of the Year during winter ball for Tiburones de la Guaira. Over 55 games, Matos hit .300/.345/.536 with 10 home runs, 41 RBIs and a league-leading 20 doubles. Along with the opportunity to play in front of friends and family, the experience allowed Matos to experience sustained success that eluded him in the majors.
Shortly after Jung Hoo Lee’s season-ending left shoulder injury, Matos went on one of the more electrifying heaters of the entire season and won NL Player of the Week, going 10-for-26 with two homers, three doubles and 16 RBIs in late May. From there, the league adapted.
Offensively, Matos finished the year with a .213 batting average, .584 OPS and five homers over 45 games. Defensively, Matos was worth -4 outs above average in the outfield. By WAR, Matos was below replacement level.
“Sometimes, something like … a big winter ball can really set a guy on a quicker trajectory, a higher trajectory than normal,” said president of baseball operations Buster Posey in January. “We’re excited for him to come in, continue the confidence that he gained from winter ball this year and compete for a spot on the roster.”
While Matos was expected to factor into the Giants’ outfield plans last season after playing 76 games for the team in 2023, McCray’s emergence was more of a surprise.
“You look at last season, and to think that Grant McCray was going to be here would have been a stretch,” Melvin said. “Not only was he here, but there were times he was really important to our lineup and performed really well. There’s still some things like any other young player that you have to work on.”
McCray, 24, began last season with Double-A Richmond. By mid-June, he earned a promotion to Triple-A Sacramento. In mid-August, he was making his major-league debut.
The left-handed-hitting outfielder had his share of highlights, hitting five homers and swiping five bags over 37 games. McCray’s peripherals — 93rd percentile sprint speed, 99th percentile arm strength, 90.2 average exit velocity — jump off the page as well. For all his flashes, McCray had a .202 batting average, .617 OPS and struck out 43.1% of the time.
“I learned what it’s going to be like,” McCray said. “When I go up there, it’s not like the minor leagues where guys are just throwing stuff over the plate. They want you to chase their stuff. It’s just part of the game (in the majors). It’s a chess game and they think a lot more than they do in the minor leagues. It’s a learning experience for me.”
McCray made a significant mechanical adjustment during the offseason, incorporating a toe tap instead of using a standard stride. He’d thought about making the switch for a while and decided to experiment with the change during the winter. McCray pointed out that Lee, who also uses a toe tap, seems “ready to go at all times.” So far, McCray is satisfied with the early returns.
“I feel out front on everything, which is good for now,” McCray said. “Around this time in spring, I’m normally behind on everything. I’m usually late. Now, I have time to think. Just gotta keep going and see where it goes.”