The Giants gave LaMonte Wade Jr. a warm welcome back to Oracle Park on Monday night, and for a moment it was all appreciation. Then the whole thing turned a little bleak.
San Francisco was facing the Houston Astros, and the tribute to Wade was a sweet nod to a player who was genuinely popular during his time with the team. The moment landed because Wade meant something to Giants fans. He was one of the faces of that strange, electric 2021 run, the year he picked up the “Late Night LaMonte” nickname by coming through with clutch hits late in games as the Giants rolled to a franchise-record 107 wins.
But that’s exactly why it stung.
That season was five years ago now, and seeing Wade in a different uniform was a sharp reminder of how long it’s been since the Giants were last truly humming. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2021, and the years since have been defined by four straight seasons of mediocrity.
There were enough decent stretches from 2022 through 2025 to keep hope alive, but 2026 has been rough almost from the jump. Outside of spring training, this group never really looked like a playoff team, or even like a club capable of finishing above .500.
That part matters, because the Giants have not finished above .500 since 2021.
What makes the whole scene hit even harder is that Wade was on this roster as recently as last season. He opened the year as the Giants’ first baseman on Opening Day against the Cincinnati Reds and stayed in the mix through a brutal slump before San Francisco finally moved on in June. Dominic Smith came in first, and then the Giants made the bigger swing later that month by landing Rafael Devers.
Wade has since moved around, but he’s held his own in Houston. His .215 batting average doesn’t jump off the page, yet he’s still drawing walks the way he always did in San Francisco.
His .348 OBP tells the real story there. On Monday night, he came off the bench as a pinch hitter, drew a walk, and scored in extra innings.
So yes, it was a nice tribute. It was also a little painful.
Wade walking back into Oracle Park in another uniform was a living reminder of just how far the Giants have drifted from that 2021 peak. And after everything that’s happened since, that gap feels bigger than ever.
Maybe that’s why the memory of “Late Night LaMonte” still lands so hard. It came out of nowhere once.
Maybe the Giants are due for that kind of surprise again.
In Other News...
Giants Are Finally Seeing Why The Tyler Rogers Trade Could Matter
The Tyler Rogers trade always carried a delayed payoff for the Giants, and thats starting to come into view as the club watches the pieces it got back settle into bigger roles. Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert are both working their way toward possible 2027 roster spots, giving San Francisco a reason to keep an eye on a deal that was designed more for the future than for immediate help. Tidwells move toward starting duties has been especially notable, because the Giants have been looking for young arms who can grow into a larger job rather than just fill innings.
Gilberts path has looked different, but no less important, as the organization sees whether his bat and defense can translate into an everyday profile down the line. The broader significance of the Rogers trade is still tied to projection more than proof, which is why these next few months matter so much. If both players keep trending in the right direction, the Giants could end up with something they rarely get at the deadline: a move that helps now in theory and later in practice. [Read more 🡒]
How Former Giants Are Already Shaping The Trade Deadline Debate
The Giants moved six players at the trade deadline, and the early returns have already given the front office plenty to monitor from afar. Tyler Mahle came out of the gate with a strong first start for the Braves, while Erik Miller has settled in nicely in relief for the Red Sox, giving both new clubs immediate reasons to feel good about the additions.
Not every new chapter has started as cleanly. Luis Arraez opened well with the Phillies before recent struggles, Caleb Kilian is on the injured list with an oblique issue, Robbie Ray had a rough first outing with the Padres, and Heliot Ramos has had a difficult start with the Yankees. It is still early enough for these moves to change shape, but for now the deadline debate is being written as much by the players who left San Francisco as by the ones still wearing orange and black. [Read more 🡒]