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After Chadwick Tromp’s first big moment, going 2-for-4 with a double July 31 in his second major league game, Wilmer Flores captured his spirit well.
“There’s something about him,” the Giants infielder said over Zoom, “that you want to root for the guy.”
Giants fans can keep rooting.
Tromp announced he would be returning to San Francisco next season after the Giants nontendered him last week, brought back on what is believed to be a minor league deal. With the Giants hesitant to throw Joey Bart back in the majors with holes in his swing that were evident in 2020, Tromp can compete in camp to be Buster Posey’s backup, though the Giants will seek a more seasoned (and preferably lefty-hitting) option.
“GIANTS NATION!! Now that the details are finalized i cant wait to go get more WWWWWWWWWW! LETS GO BABY!” Tromp wrote Tuesday night, followed by a series of Aruba flags.
Tromp became the sixth Aruban to play in the majors, getting a text message from the small island’s prime minister along the way, in cracking through in his first season as a Giant. He signed as a minor league free agent last year following seven seasons in the Reds’ system and watched Posey opt out, Aramis Garcia get hurt and Tyler Heineman and Rob Brantly struggle. He flopped with Brantly early in the season and became Heineman’s platoon partner until Bart debuted. Tromp stayed, in large part because he had become Johnny Cueto’s personal catcher.
Tromp and Cueto had a good rapport — Tromp speaks English and Spanish — and showed himself to be a solid defensive catcher, while his bat needs to catch up. He showed some pop, with four homers in 64 plate appearances, while slashing .213/.219/.426 until a strained shoulder ended his season.
It was a loss for the team and for the fanbase, Tromp’s smiling face a popular one and his Twitter account punctuating each win with a series of W’s.
The Giants let him go to clear space on the 40-man roster ahead of the Winter Meetings and the Rule 5 draft, but the two signs appeared to have an understanding. Tromp is back and sounds excited about it, which is on brand.