Back in 2024, the future looked like it might be taking shape in San Francisco with Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Tyler Fitzgerald all flashing at different moments. Luciano and Matos were the names many fans wanted to see in the Giants’ Opening Day mix, but both opened the year in the minors. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, was not widely viewed as an everyday answer, yet he forced his way into the picture by suddenly starting to hit home runs and spending plenty of time at shortstop.
Matos got his shot and briefly looked like he might be the real deal. He picked up National League Player of the Week honors and was locked in at the plate for a stretch before cooling off and heading back to Triple-A. Luciano also got called up, but his struggles at shortstop pushed the Giants to rethink everything about his role, and he eventually moved to the outfield.
Now all three are in different organizations, and all three are grinding away in the minors.
Luciano’s path has been especially restless. He bounced around the offseason, getting claimed and then waived multiple times before finally landing with the New York Yankees.
The bat has been loud in the minors: he’s hitting .291/.384/.533 with 24 home runs and 70 runs batted in between Double-A and Triple-A. The production has dipped some since his move to Triple-A, and with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton already in the Yankees’ lineup, a big-league promotion looks like a long shot.
Matos has spent this season with the Milwaukee Brewers after the Giants moved on from him. He did get a small look with the big league club and showed a few encouraging signs, but most of his year has been in Triple-A, where the numbers have been modest at best.
He’s batting .234/.307/.355 with five home runs and 36 driven in. With the Brewers sitting among the best teams in baseball, his path upward appears pretty crowded.
Fitzgerald’s new stop came via the Toronto Blue Jays, who initially claimed him before he ended up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. There, he was putting together a strong minor league season before injury interrupted it.
At the time he got hurt, he was hitting .293/.400/.598 with six homers and 22 runs batted in for LA’s Triple-A affiliate. He has not played since June.
So the three players who once seemed like they could anchor the Giants for years are all stuck in minor league limbo with other clubs now. From San Francisco’s perspective, that might feel like some vindication. Still, there’s always the possibility one of them catches fire and finds a little revenge down the line.
In Other News...
Giants May Be Heading Toward A Willy Adames Decision Fast
When the Giants signed Willy Adames to a seven-year deal, they understood the position could eventually become part of the conversation. The expectation was that he might not stay at shortstop for the life of the contract, and this first season has only sharpened that possibility after a rough defensive run, including poor metrics and 18 errors, with a back injury also potentially playing a role.
For a club that leans heavily on defense and does not have much shortstop depth behind him, the question feels more immediate than theoretical. The upcoming offseason could force San Francisco to decide whether the best way to maximize Adames, and the roster around him, is to keep waiting for a rebound at the position or start planning a move sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Let Another Chance Slip In A Frustrating Padres Loss
Rafael Devers gave the Giants exactly the kind of jolt they needed at Oracle Park, launching a grand slam in a game that still ended in frustration with a 7-5 loss to the Padres. The blast was San Franciscos ninth grand slam of the season, tying a franchise record, and it helped keep the lineup in striking distance during a night when the offense had to work to stay alive.
The pitching side was a different story, with Anthony Molina taking the brunt of the damage in his third start before rookie Yunior Marte steadied things with five scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Even with that late relief and a chance to keep a promising stretch rolling, the Giants came up short of a fourth straight win, leaving one more missed opportunity in a season already filled with them. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Prospect Bo Davidson May Still Have To Wait For His Shot
Bo Davidsons momentum took a hit in Sacramento after the outfielder fouled a ball off his ankle and came away with an ankle contusion, leaving him day-to-day for the River Cats. It is the latest small obstacle for a player whose performance has kept him on the Giants radar, even if the path to San Francisco remains narrow for now.
The bigger issue is roster math. The Giants already have a crowded outfield picture, which makes a late-season promotion look unlikely despite Davidsons strong showing in the minors. Still, his standing within the organization appears secure, and he is expected to be added to the 40-man roster in the offseason to keep him out of the Rule 5 Draft. [Read more 🡒]