Missing the final week in Arizona with a balky back didn’t keep centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee off the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but in somewhat of a surprise, infielder Christian Koss will be on the bench in Cincinnati instead of outfielder Grant McCray or infielder Brett Wisely.
Veteran Sam Huff will open the season as the backup catcher and infielder Casey Schmitt, who is out of options, also made the 26-man roster the Giants released Wednesday night. The Giants will open the season with 13 pitchers and just one left-hander, Erik Miller, in the bullpen.
Koss, 27, has played mostly shortstop in the minor leagues, but also can play second, third and has some outfield experience. The former UC Irvine star played at three levels in the Giants’ minor league system last season after being acquired in a trade with the Red Sox. He arrived known more for his defense, but turned a lot of heads in camp. Koss hit .325 (13 for 40) with a .413 on-base percentage.
Koss and Schmitt provide versatility behind the starting infield of LaMonte Wade Jr. at first, Tyler Fitzgerald at second, Matt Chapman at third and new shortstop Willy Adames. Koss took the 40-man roster spot of catcher Tom Murphy, who was placed on the 60-day injured list with mid-back disk herniation.
Wisley appeared in 142 games with the Giants over the past two seasons with a slash line of .218/.263/.320. He was 13 for 44 (.235) this spring and figured to have an advantage as the lone left-handed hitter among the bench candidates. He was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
McCray will also open the season in Sacramento. The former third-round pick made his debut with the Giants last season. He appeared in 37 games and hit five home runs, but also struck out 56 times in 130 plate appearances and batted .202. He slashed .239/.375/.391 this spring.
Lee, whose debut season with the Giants lasted just 37 games because of a shoulder injury, missed about a week because of back tightness from what the team said was from sleeping wrong. He returned to the lineup Sunday at Sacramento and had an RBI double in three plate appearances. He played in both exhibition games at Oracle Park against the Tigers and was deemed fit to open the season.
Jerar Encarnacion was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken left hand (though he’ll require surgery and could miss at least half of the season), leaving the Giants with four outfielders on the Opening Day roster: Lee, Heliot Ramos, Luis Matos and Mike Yastrzemski.
In two other moves, hard-throwing reliever Joel Peguero and catcher Max Stassi were reassigned to Sacramento.
Below is the full roster:
Pitchers (13)
Starters: RHP Jordan Hicks, LHP Robbie Ray, RHP Landen Roupp, RHP Justin Verlander, RHP Logan Webb
Relievers: RHP Hayden Birdsong, RHP Spencer Bivens, RHP Camilo Doval, LHP Erik Miller, RHP Randy Rodríguez, RHP Tyler Rogers, RHP Lou Trivino, RHP Ryan Walker
Catchers (2)
Patrick Bailey, Sam Huff
Infielders (7)
SS Willy Adames, 3B Matt Chapman, 2B Tyler Fitzgerald, 1B/DH Wilmer Flores, INF Christian Koss, INF Casey Schmitt, 1B/DH LaMonte Wade Jr.
Outfielders (4)
Jung Hoo Lee, Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos, Mike Yastrzemski