Mitch Haniger was leaning over the dugout rail when Blake Sabol’s towering walkoff home run sailed over the center field fence. He, along with the rest of his teammates from the dugout, met the rookie at home plate with leaps, hugs and water bottle showers.
Haniger was a part of Tuesday night’s thrilling victory, and the ensuing celebration. But he wasn’t in the lineup.
Just one game after making his Giants debut, Haniger got the night off against Cardinals right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford. Haniger is expected to play regularly against both righties and lefties; the Giants were just easing him back from action after an oblique and then back injury set his season back a month.
That workload management is likely coming to an end soon.
Haniger is back in the Giants’ lineup on Wednesday, playing left field and hitting fifth. The Giants didn’t sign him to a three-year, $43.5 million contract for him to play every other day. That, obviously, won’t be the case.
“Not much longer,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “My expectation is he may not start tomorrow’s game, but we’re open to kind of changing course on that. I think once we get to Mexico City, after the off day, we’re going to be in a position where he can pretty much roll out there on a regular basis.”
Friday’s off day could serve as Haniger’s last extra day off for a while. The 32-year-old former All-Star might be the most talented position player on the roster.
Haniger hit 39 home runs in 2021. He has balanced platoon splits in his career, making him a force in San Francisco’s lineup regardless of opponent.
In his first game with the Giants, Haniger drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and went 1-for-4. San Francisco has won four straight games heading into the third game of a four-game series with St. Louis.
- Sean Manaea and Alex Cobb will start the two games in Mexico City against the Padres. Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium famously has an elevation of 7,349 feet, which makes it the highest altitude MLB game in history. Pitching will be at a premium.
The Giants tried to protect Manaea against the Cardinals’ dangerous right-handed hitters Tuesday , only letting him face four hitters. That kept him fresh for Saturday, when he squares off against Joe Musgrove. It should be noted, though, that the Padres have a similar righty-dominant lineup that features Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts. There could be some matchup chicanery at work then.
Cobb is matched up with Yu Darvish on Sunday.
- The Giants’ allegiance is split in the clubhouse when it comes to the ongoing Warriors-Kings first-round series.
Logan Webb, a Rocklin native, came to the park wearing a purple Kevin Huerter jersey. He’s already made side bets on the series with Warriors fans Brandon Crawford (Mountain View) and Joc Pederson (Palo Alto). Mitch Haniger, too, is pulling for the Warriors as an Archbishop Mitty High grad.
- Joey Bart remains sidelined with right groin tightness, but it appears that he’ll avoid the injured list. Kapler said he hopes to get Bart ready to come off the bench Wednesday. Although that seems far-fetched, Friday’s off-day should come in handy for his recovery.