Jarrett Parker played well enough in spring training to win the Giants’ starting left field job, but has struggled so far in the young 2017 season. Though 20 at-bats Parker has 10 strikeouts and just three hits.
Giants analyst and former third baseman Matt Williams joined the Inside China Basin podcast Thursday and said that Parker will improve with experience after spending much of his career in the minors, but must first improve his plate discipline.
“It’s about experience and it’s about getting those at bats,” Williams said. “Everybody progresses through the minor league systems and they have success and that’s why they’re here. This is a completely different level. I’m sure Bam (Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens) is working with him on an everyday basis to get him to cut down on (strikeouts), create contact, because if he can create contact more often then the results will be there.
“We’ve seen that. That’s first and foremost for him… take away the bad swings on bad pitches and get the ball in the strike zone and he’ll be able to do damage…For me it was embarrassing to strike out and I did it quite often. It still was embarrassing to have to turn around and have to take that long walk back to the dugout.”
Listen to the full interview below.