The SF Giants don’t exactly have a lineup that jumps off the page right now. Between the injuries and the patchwork nature of the roster, they’ve been leaning on a bunch of players who would usually be spending their time in Triple-A or Double-A. Still, if the club gets healthy and some of these younger hitters keep trending up, the group that could take the field in 2027 might be a lot sturdier than it looks today.
Only two Opening Day hitters are still in the lineup now: Jung Hoo Lee and Rafael Devers. That alone tells you how much has changed. But it also opens the door for a very different kind of projected order next season, one that blends established names with a wave of younger options.
In center field, the idea is a platoon between Drew Gilbert and Jonah Cox. That would depend on the Giants finding a way to move Harrison Bader, which would clear room for the younger pair.
Gilbert has handled righties well, while Cox has looked good against lefties. Both bring speed and solid defense, the kind of traits that can help set the tone at the top or bottom of the lineup.
Casey Schmitt is penciled in at second base, and his 2026 season deserves more attention than it’s getting. Before a knee injury ended his year, he was hitting .271/.301/.483 with 21 homers and 55 runs batted in. He was on pace for 30 home runs, which would make him a major piece if he repeats that kind of production.
Rafael Devers remains the centerpiece at first base or designated hitter, depending on how the roster shakes out. His April was rough, but after that he settled in and has been really good. Right now, he’s scorching, and if that version shows up over a full season, opposing pitchers may have no choice but to give him the Barry Binds treatment and walk him.
If they do, Bryce Eldridge is waiting behind him. The Giants already got a glimpse of that dynamic against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when Devers was intentionally walked to reach Eldridge in extra innings and Eldridge answered with a go-ahead double.
Matt Chapman is another key bat, projected back at third base. His offense wasn’t where the Giants wanted it before he landed on the injured list, but the expectation is that once healthy he can return to being a productive hitter. When he’s right, 25 homers is well within reach, and his defense only adds to the value.
Willy Adames fits into that same conversation. He struggled in 2026, but if he gets healthy, the power is still there. He’s shown he can get to 30 home runs, and when you stack him with Schmitt, Eldridge, Devers and Chapman, that’s a lot of pop in one lineup.
Jung Hoo Lee is projected in right field. He has cooled off lately, but the earlier hit streak served as a reminder of what he brings. His contact skills matter, especially in a lineup that already has plenty of swing-and-miss built in.
There’s also a possible left-field platoon if the Giants want to keep mixing and matching. Turner Hill has been impressive lately, and pairing him with Lee lower in the order could create some annoying at-bats for opposing pitchers. Bericoto could be an option against lefties because of his power.
Behind the plate, a timeshare between Drew Cavanaugh and Daniel Susac looks likely. Both have shown encouraging things, and even though Susac is finished for the year, he should still be in the mix next season.
So no, this doesn’t look like a perfect lineup. It’s not even close to settled.
But on paper, with the right health and the right development, it’s a group that could be a lot more dangerous than the version the Giants are running out there now. And after what happened entering 2026, that caution matters.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Won This Padres Trade Sooner Than Anyone Expected
The Robbie Ray deal at the 2026 MLB trade deadline already looks like the kind of trade that can reshape a farm system. San Francisco sent the veteran pitcher to San Diego and got back prospects Miguel Mendez and Joniel Hernandez, two names that have quickly given the Giants something to watch beyond the big league standings. For a club always trying to balance present needs with future value, that return has added an interesting layer to a move that initially seemed more about deadline pragmatism than long-term upside.
Mendez and Hernandez have both shown enough in the minors to keep the conversation alive about what the Giants may have landed. The Padres were clearly pushing for help in their playoff chase, but the early returns in San Francisco suggest the real payoff from the trade could come later, and perhaps sooner than expected. For Giants fans, the intrigue now is not just what Ray means in San Diego, but how quickly these two prospects can turn a deadline swap into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Sent Ryan Walker A Message About This Bullpen
The Giants made a notable bullpen shuffle by claiming right-hander Joel Kuhnel off waivers from the Brewers and placing him directly on the major league roster. To create room, they optioned Ryan Walker to Triple-A Sacramento and also shifted catcher Jesus Rodriguez to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Kuhnels arrival carries some urgency because he is out of minor-league options, so the Giants have to decide quickly what he can give them at the big-league level. For Walker, the move is a clear reminder that the bullpen picture is still fluid, and every relief job is being treated as one that has to be earned and re-earned. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Tough Offseason Squeeze With Few Easy Roster Cuts
The Giants are heading into an offseason roster squeeze that leaves very few painless choices. With at least 15 players on the 60-day injured list, the front office has to sort through a crowded group of rehabs and decide who gets activated back onto the 40-man roster and who risks being exposed on waivers, all while trying to keep the big-picture roster intact.
What makes the situation even tighter is the lack of obvious turnover elsewhere. JT Brubaker is the only Giant set for unrestricted free agency, and the club also has a decision looming on Rowan Wick, who is working back from Tommy John surgery. If that option is declined, it adds another layer to an already complicated winter, with the possibility of a lockout only heightening the urgency to settle the roster before the calendar turns. [Read more 🡒]