The April from Hell continued for the Giants on Tuesday.
News broke that beloved manager Bruce Bochy will miss the series in Kansas City after an ablation, another heart procedure to treat his atrial flutter. This is the third heart procedure Bochy has endured since 2015, and although the team statement called the procedure “minor”, you and I both know the definition of a “minor” heart procedure is a procedure done to someone else.
It’s another log on the Fire of Awfulness that is April, including, chronologically:
—Mark Melancon blowing his first save, on Opening Day.
— The Giants going 2-5 on their opening road trip.
— A grease fire at the Cha Cha Bowl stand on Opening Day morning.
— Buster Posey getting beaned in his first AT&T at bat.
— The sad passing of Orlando Cepeda’s wife.
— The tragic passing of Brandon Crawford’s sister-in-law.
— Jarrett Parker snapping his clavicle running into the left field wall.
— Now, Bochy.
Add in the fact that Madison Bumgarner makes his celebrated return to Kansas City with nary a win on his ledger, and we’re looking for some good news — any good news, really — about the Giants’ 5-9 start.
Let’s start the mojo reversal by saying his name: Christian Arroyo.
Both Mike Krukow on Monday and Duane Kuiper on Tuesday on our show mentioned Arroyo as a possible call-up to solve the Giants’ left field woes, and when Kruk and Kuip both start mentioning a prospect’s name, we best sit up and take notice.
And it’s time the Giants got a needed shot of positivity, an energy boost.
Maybe, just maybe, Arroyo is said boost.
Let’s get into some perspective here, to dispense with any worry: Arroyo, who will turn 22 on May 30, isn’t in diapers anymore. Drafted out of high school with the 25th pick of the 2013 first round, Arroyo has now accumulated 1,439 plate appearances in the minor leagues.
For comparison’s sake, taking two of the NL West’s best young infielders, also drafted out of high school:
— Corey Seager of the Dodgers, like Arroyo a first round draft pick, made his MLB debut at age 21 after 860 minor-league plate appearances.
— Nolan Arenado of the Rockies, a second round draft pick, made his MLB debut at age 22 after 1,876 plate appearances.
I’m not saying Arroyo is Seager or Arenado just yet. Or am I?
We could draw up comparisons with Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford, but both players played college baseball, so it’s less of a direct comp.
Point is, Arroyo’s minor-league experience is not insignificant. It’s getting past the time to say seasoning is still needed. And Arroyo’s start in AAA Sacramento — 18-for-39 (.462 batting average), with three doubles, a home run and an OPS of 1.115 — has Giants fans properly salivating.
Sure, we could wrap our concerns in bubble-wrap and be overly cautious: He needs more time! He hasn’t played left field! Don’t ruin his confidence by bringing him up too soon!
Or, we could begin to smell the java. The Giants are dragging. Arroyo is soaring. Even Bochy told the beat guys Saturday that Arroyo is “knocking on the door.”
I say by the month of May, the Giants should answer it, and let him in.