The San Francisco Giants are bringing back one of their fan favorites in 2026 - not to the field, but to the spotlight. On April 25th, when the Giants host the Miami Marlins, the team will honor two-time World Series champion Brandon Belt with a special celebration day at Oracle Park. And yes, fans in attendance will walk away with a Brandon Belt Aloha Shirt - a fitting nod to the end of a memorable Giants career that was anything but ordinary.
Brandon Belt gets his long-overdue Giants sendoff
For a franchise that’s done a terrific job honoring the heroes of its championship era, this moment for Belt has been a long time coming. He was a cornerstone of the Giants’ 2012 and 2014 World Series runs, a player whose contributions often flew under the radar but were critical to the team’s success. Now, the Giants are giving Belt his due - and Giants fans will get the chance to say a proper goodbye.
While the Aloha Shirt is a fun touch - and maybe a subtle farewell - it’s also a celebration of a player who brought a unique blend of power, patience, and personality to the Giants’ lineup for over a decade.
A strong final season, and then silence
Belt hasn’t played in the majors since 2023, when he put together a quietly impressive season with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 404 plate appearances, he posted an .858 OPS with 19 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a standout 15.1% walk rate - a vintage Belt performance built on discipline and pop.
Despite that, he didn’t land a deal for 2024. He was in conversations with a few teams, but talks never moved beyond the early stages.
For a player coming off that kind of production, it was a surprising turn. Belt himself was reportedly puzzled by the lack of interest.
Now, with his 38th birthday approaching in 2026, a comeback seems unlikely. But what’s clear is this: Belt left the game on his terms, and he left it with plenty still in the tank.
From fifth-round pick to forever Giant
Belt’s journey to San Francisco started back in 2009, when the Giants selected him in the fifth round out of the University of Texas. It didn’t take long for him to make noise in the minors - his 2010 stint in San Jose turned heads and launched him up the prospect rankings. By 2011, he was making his MLB debut.
His first big league hit? Off none other than Clayton Kershaw - a poetic beginning to a career that would see Belt both battle and be bested by the Dodgers' ace over the years.
Over 13 seasons, Belt put together a career slash line of .261/.357/.460 with a 125 wRC+. He walked at a strong 12.4% clip, struck out 24.5% of the time, and posted a .200 ISO - a reflection of the raw power that made him a threat in the middle of the order. His best season came in 2021, when he launched 29 home runs and posted a .975 OPS in just 381 plate appearances.
A fan favorite with a championship pedigree
Belt wasn’t just a numbers guy - he was a personality, a presence, and a player who connected with fans. Whether it was his dry humor, his “Captain” nickname, or his clutch postseason moments, Belt carved out a unique place in Giants lore.
He was an NL All-Star in 2016, but his legacy is built on more than accolades. It’s built on rings, on resilience, and on always showing up when it mattered most.
April 25th won’t be just another promotional night. It’ll be a chance for Giants fans to salute one of their own - a player who helped define a golden era of San Francisco baseball. And for Brandon Belt, it’ll be a well-deserved moment in the sun, surrounded by the fans and franchise he helped bring to the top of the baseball world.