San Francisco Giants: Releasing Hunter Pence would be a mistake
By David Hill
In what would be a surprising move, the San Francisco Giants could end up moving on from outfielder Hunter Pence. That decision would be a mistake.
It was not that long ago that Hunter Pence was a key part of the San Francisco Giants lineup. As recently as 2016, Pence was a solid hitter, producing a .289/.357/.415 batting line while hitting 13 homers and 23 doubles. His all out approach at the plate and in the field, coupled with his constant exuberance, made him a fan favorite amongst the Giants faithful.
However, since then, Pence has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness. Since the start of the 2017 campaign, he posted a .250/.303/.365 batting line, worth an OPS+ of 77. This season, prior to his thumb injury, Pence had produced a woeful .172/.197/.190 batting line, with just one extra base hit and 22 strikeouts in 61 plate appearances.
That lack of production has to be concerning to the Giants. Pence is 35 years old after all, and is on the downside of his career. It makes sense that the club is not quite sure what to do with the fading star, as they may be considering granting him an outright release once he is eligible to return from the disabled list.
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For his part, Pence has been hitting well as of late. During a break in his rehab, he visited with Doug Latta, who changed the swings of Justin Turner and Mac Williamson. Since those adjustments, Pence has started to find his way at the plate again, with 20 hits, including three doubles and a grand slam, in his last 54 plate appearances for the Sacramento River Cats.
The Giants could certainly use that production in the lineup. Austin Jackson has been a disappointment in center, posting a .250/.328/.302 batting line while costing San Francisco nine runs in center. Gregor Blanco has been slightly better in his utility outfielder role, and having taken over in left, but his .252/.301/.365 batting line, and -6 runs saved across his outfield appearance, leave a lot to be desired.
If these adjustments hold, Pence could easily be that piece the Giants need in the lineup once again. Of course, San Francisco would need to adjust their outfield alignment, especially if Williamson remains with the team. An outfield of Williamson in left, Andrew McCutchen in center, and Hunter Pence in right could provide the firepower that the Giants hoped for.
The San Francisco Giants still have a few days to decide what they want to do with Hunter Pence. If he continues to hit well at AAA, he will make that decision a lot easier.