SF Giants’ Non-Roster Invitees: Bo Davidson Headlines a Group with Something to Prove
The San Francisco Giants released their list of non-roster invitees this week, and while spring training always brings a mix of familiar veterans and hungry prospects, one name jumps off the page: Bo Davidson.
The 21-year-old outfielder is the headliner of this year’s group, and for good reason. Davidson has quickly become the Giants’ top outfield prospect, and he’s not just climbing the organizational ladder-he’s making noise on the national stage.
After signing as an undrafted free agent out of Caldwell Community College in 2023, Davidson has already earned a spot on Baseball America’s top-100 prospects list. That’s no small feat for a player who didn’t hear his name called on draft day.
Davidson’s 2023 campaign turned heads across the league. Splitting time between two minor league levels, he posted an .844 OPS with 18 home runs and 70 RBI over 522 plate appearances.
That includes a late-season stint in Double-A, where he still managed to hold his own with a .713 OPS, eight homers, and 14 RBI in 187 trips to the plate. Those numbers, combined with his tools, paint a picture of a player who could be knocking on the big-league door sooner than expected.
He’s got a left-handed bat with real pop, the wheels to steal bases and track down balls in center, and a strong arm that plays anywhere in the outfield. It’s the kind of all-around skill set that gives him multiple ways to impact a game-and that’s exactly what a team like the Giants, currently retooling their outfield depth, should be looking for.
While Davidson is the headline, he’s far from the only intriguing name on the invitee list.
The Giants made a surprise move by signing veteran right-hander Michael Fulmer to a minor league deal. Fulmer, a former AL Rookie of the Year, is expected to compete for a bullpen role this spring. Given the current state of the Giants’ relief corps-where roles are still unsettled and depth is a concern-there’s a real opportunity for Fulmer and a few others to make an impression.
He’ll be joined by a group of non-roster arms that includes Will Bednar, Trent Harris, Nick Margevicius, and Gregory Santos. Each brings something different to the table, and with a strong spring, any one of them could force their way into the bullpen conversation.
Behind the plate, veteran catcher Eric Haase leads the group of invitees, bringing experience and pop from the right side. He’ll be battling for the backup catcher job alongside Daniel Susac and Jesús Rodríguez. That competition will be one to watch, especially with the Giants looking to solidify their catching depth heading into the season.
In the infield, Parks Harber and Nate Furman are among those getting a look. Cracking the Opening Day roster might be a long shot for either, but spring training is often about more than just the 26-man-it’s about leaving a mark on the coaching staff and positioning yourself for a call-up later in the year.
As for Davidson, the odds of him breaking camp with the big-league club are slim-at least for now. But the door isn’t shut.
With the Giants’ outfield depth in flux, there’s a path for someone like Davidson to rise quickly. For now, Luis Matos, Drew Gilbert, Grant McCray, and Jerar Encarnación are expected to battle it out for roster spots, but Davidson will be right there, showing what he can do and reminding everyone that the future might be closer than we think.
Spring training is where stories start. And for Bo Davidson and a handful of others, this is their chance to write the first chapter of something big.