One of the stranger subplots around the SF Giants right now has nothing to do with a big bat or a late-inning arm. It’s outfielder Jonah Cox taking grounders from Ron Washington, the same infield wizard who has already helped turn Luis Arraez into one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the 2026 season on defense.
Washington has earned plenty of credit for Arraez’s improvement, and now he’s working with a player who would qualify as a much tougher project. Cox is likely only an emergency option, but if Washington can coax even passable infield play out of him, that would be another sharp bit of work from the Giants’ infield coach.
The timing makes sense. With Heliot Ramos back from the IL, the Giants had to clear a spot and Buddy Kennedy was the odd man out.
That move left the club without an actual infielder on the bench, even though Casey Schmitt can handle every spot on the infield. The catch is that Schmitt has been starting in left field a lot just to keep his bat in the lineup.
Sunday showed exactly why the Giants are thin in that department. Schmitt was scratched because he was sick, and Willy Adames left late with back spasms. That forced Schmitt into shortstop duties anyway, despite not feeling right himself.
That kind of chain reaction is what makes Cox’s new work with Washington worth watching. If Schmitt were unavailable and another infielder had to be scratched, the Giants could suddenly be looking at Cox at second base in a hurry. That would not be the preferred outcome.
The problem is simple: Cox has barely done it before. He has played second base in only one minor league game in his career, and that came in 2024. His athletic tools are obvious - his speed and agility make him a real weapon in center field - but second base asks for a lot more than quick feet.
That’s why this is such a big ask. The position takes repetition, feel, and plenty of live-game reps, and Cox does not have that kind of background there. Still, if anyone can get him to the point where he can handle the basics, it’s Washington.
The Giants may still choose a cleaner solution. If Adames has to go on the IL, Christian Koss is healthy again and could be recalled, giving the team a more natural backup option.
And Cox’s bat also suggests he might benefit from more time in the minors. He has seven hits in 24 at-bats, but he has struck out 14 times.
The Giants would clearly prefer not to use Cox on the infield. But emergencies have a way of changing plans, and at least now they’re giving him a chance to prepare under one of the best teachers in the game.
In Other News...
Giants Just Moved On From Buddy Kennedy And It Says Plenty
Buddy Kennedys stop with the Giants was short and fairly ordinary, which is part of why the move was easy to read. The 27-year-old veteran infielder had been used around the diamond this season, and his limited run in San Francisco never gave the club much reason to keep him in the mix after a handful of quiet games. His major league track record has been that of a depth piece more than a fixture, and the Giants have now chosen to clear the spot.
What makes the move worth noting is the contrast between his big-league struggles and the bat he showed in Sacramento, where he put together a much better stretch at Triple-A. Kennedy has bounced through several organizations since Arizona drafted him in 2017, which makes this latest change feel more like another turn in an already winding career than a surprise. Still, the timing suggests the Giants were ready to pivot, even if his next opportunity now belongs to another club. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Rookie Drew Cavanaugh Delivers A Debut Fans Will Absolutely Love
Drew Cavanaughs first day in the majors came with a little more responsibility than most rookies can expect, and the Giants handed it to him right away. Called up after Daniel Susac landed on the injured list, the 2023 17th-round pick out of Florida Southern stepped behind the plate in his MLB debut and caught Trevor McDonald, a big leap for a player who was still climbing through the system not long ago.
Cavanaugh also checked off the first-hit box in the fifth inning, giving his debut the kind of finishing touch that tends to stick with a clubhouse and a fan base. After the game, he handed the authenticated ball to his mother, a simple gesture that fit the moment and made the whole night feel a little bigger than a standard roster move. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Grind Out Another Tight Home Win To Take The Series
Robbie Ray gave the Giants exactly the kind of start they have been leaning on during this home stretch, working deep enough to keep the game in their hands and limiting Atlanta to one unearned run. San Francisco did just enough behind him, with Luis Arraez picking up a run scored and an RBI and the Giants turning two Braves errors in the sixth inning into the lead they would not give back in a 3-2 win.
The finish still had plenty of tension. Atlanta kept pushing late enough to force San Francisco to guard every pitch, but Caleb Kilian handled the ninth and closed it out as the Giants continued to stack one narrow home win after another. It was the kind of series-clinching result that can quietly matter in the bigger picture, especially for a club that keeps finding ways to win games that stay tight deep into the night. [Read more 🡒]