With Giants prospect Luis Matos absolutely tearing it up at Triple-A, many are clamoring for the youngster’s call up. It’s understandable after seeing how both Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey hit the ground running. The problem(?) is the Giants are currently stacked in the outfield, with Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater and Joc Pederson all playing well.
It’s for that reason that Duane Kuiper had a sarcastic response when presented with the notion that Matos should be called up on Murph & Mac..
“Call him up and let’s sit him on the bench and let’s cool him off,” Kuiper said jokingly. “Cause that would be really good for him.
“If you call him up he’s got to play, and he’s got to play all the time. So he’s right were he belongs, unless there’s an injury that opens up a spot, so he just has to keep doing what he’s doing. Other people have to remember that numbers in Triple-A are a lot different than the numbers in the big leagues. What you see in Triple-A pitching-wise is not what you see in the big leagues. It’s not automatically going to just ‘Well, he’s going to step in and that’s it, he’s going to keep doing what he’s doing.’ Major League pitchers have a way of making sure that doesn’t happen.”
Right now, Matos couldn’t be hotter. He’s launched five home runs in his last six games, and is slashing .396/.434/.660 in 23 games with Triple-A Sacramento.
Still, there’s a difference between dominating in the PCL and tearing it up in The Show.
“Casey Schmitt right now, who tore it up for 33 at-bats, those of us who have been around the game know what’s going to happen,” Kuiper continued. “They are going to figure him out, and now he’s going to start chasing pitches that he didn’t see and now he’s got to figure it out again, and he’s so talented that he will.
“But Matos is doing everything that you have to do to get really, really noticed. Then when something happens, you’re the guy.
“When he comes up, he’s going to have to prove he can keep doing what he’s doing. But there isn’t a spot for him and that’s a good thing.”
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