"With Arraez, Bader, Lee and Ramos all participating in the WBC, the Giants are getting an extended look at the position players currently fighting for spots on the bench. You've got a bunched-up group of guys, and we're blessed to have that if you look at it a little bit by the numbers. A little bit of a different skill set for each one of them, but it's kind of a huddled up group."
"Matos, Oliva and Bericoto made the most of their starting nods in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Matos hit his second homer of Cactus League play and launched a 444-foot double off the top of the center-field batter's eye. He's strong, Vitello said of Matos. For a guy that's not as big as some of the guys they have or we have, he's strong."
Tony Vitello's first season as Giants manager coincides with the World Baseball Classic, with seven players on the 40-man roster competing in the tournament. Five of these players—Logan Webb, Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, Harrison Bader, and Luis Arraez—have secured Opening Day roster spots. Jose Butto is expected to make the team, and Tristan Beck will compete for a bullpen position. With several position players away, the Giants gain extended opportunities to evaluate bench candidates including Luis Matos, Jerar Encarnacion, Will Brennan, Drew Gilbert, and Grant McCray, along with non-roster invitees. Vitello emphasizes the importance of providing similar competitive circumstances for these players to demonstrate their capabilities during spring training.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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