Victor Bericoto’s bat is making the Giants think twice about their outfield plans.
San Francisco’s offseason attention is likely to land on pitching first, but the outfield has not exactly been settled. There’s a case for adding help there, or at least for bringing in more depth. Still, Bericoto’s work in the Venezuelan Winter League is giving the Giants another reason to pause before spending much more on the position.
In 17 games, Bericoto is hitting .391/.513/.672 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in. He has also drawn 14 walks while striking out only six times.
That production comes with the obvious caveat that he probably is not facing big league pitching in Venezuela. Even so, with spring training uncertain because of the looming lockout, the Giants may not have much to evaluate before next season. In that sense, Bericoto’s winter run could function like a mini-spring training for him.
And this isn’t coming out of nowhere. Bericoto also put together a strong Cactus League showing earlier this year and won the Barney Nugent Award, though most of that damage likely came against pitchers who spent much of the season in the minors.
He also showed in the 2026 regular season that he can handle high-end pitching. Against Tarik Skubal in six plate appearances when the Giants faced the Los Angeles Dodgers late in the season, Bericoto collected three hits, including a double and a home run.
That may be even more impressive than what he is doing now in Venezuela, but it all adds to the same point: Bericoto’s strong 2026 campaign gives the Giants another reason to reconsider how aggressively they need to attack the outfield market.
The layout is still unsettled. Jung Hoo Lee should stay in right field barring an unlikely trade, while Harrison Bader’s status remains to be seen. From a pure baseball standpoint, the Giants probably should lean on a Drew Gilbert-Jonah Cox platoon in center.
Left field is where the picture gets murkier. If the Giants want to stay young, a Bericoto-Bo Davidson platoon makes sense. They could also decide Casey Schmitt belongs there most of the time after he proved he can handle left in 2026 and because his bat is too valuable to sit, unless he becomes trade bait.
Bericoto still looks like someone who should be part of the conversation, especially with injuries and other roster twists always in play. But the Giants may also decide they already have enough bodies out there and don’t need to force a move. A low-cost veteran bat such as Randal Grichuk could still fit as extra depth, though that would likely mean clearing room on the 40-man roster by designating a young player like Turner Hill or Scott Bandura.
San Francisco could also simply stay put and let the competition sort itself out. Based on the way Bericoto is hitting in the VWL, that would not be the worst plan.
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