It didn’t take long for Madison Bumgarner’s bat to pick up where it left off in 2016.
The Giants’ ace continued to display an uncanny proficiency at the plate, launching the Giants’ first home run of the season in the fourth inning of the team’s season-opener in Arizona.
Madison Bumgarner is a bad, bad man. pic.twitter.com/JjWdVCP0wj
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 2, 2017
GIF: First bat drop of the season from Madison Bumgarner pic.twitter.com/sI1pb6VSEM
— Carmen Kiew (@carmenkiew) April 2, 2017
The solo shot off the Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke put the Giants ahead 2-0 and gave Bumgarner 15 career home runs, the most of any active pitcher.
Bumgarner’s blast—a line drive that left a vapor trail over the sunlit Chase Field grass—also counted for his 50th career run batted in.
It’s clear that while some things have changed for the Giants, Bumgarner’s unique hitting prowess has not. He remains an enormous weapon in Bruce Bochy’s arsenal: a 27-year old top-of-the-rotation starter who can also crush homers off his ace counterparts.