San Francisco Giants: Let’s not jump the gun on Jarrett Parker

When Jarrett Parker returned to the San Francisco Giants from breaking his right clavicle earlier this month, his play was the talk of the town, but it’s time for the harsh truth; he’s not an everyday player.

This is not the first time Parker was the highlight of the San Francisco Giants. In September 2015, he hit five home runs in three games, including a three-home run game on Sept. 26 in Oakland.

A lot of people hyped him to be the starting left-fielder for 2016. However, in the final week of 2015, Parker went cold. Parker did not end up getting the everyday left-field job in 2016, and he hit .238 with just five runs.

Parker is a hitter who likes to swing for the fences, and he won’t shorten his swing very often. When pitchers are able to exploit this, Parker falls into slumps. Parker is very similar to Fred Lewis. Like Lewis, Parker goes up to the plate expecting to hit everything into the water. Lewis used to go into similar streaks for a week or two, then he went cold as well.

Fast forward to this season. In the first four games after his return on Aug. 3, Parker went 8 for 17 with a home run, and just after four games, people were hyping him up to be an everyday player. However, he has since hit .236, as he has gone 17 for his last 72.

Then, there’s the fact that the Giants have players lined up for the outfield, such as Austin Slater, who is expected to return in September. There is a good chance that Slater will be a starter in next year’s opening day lineup. There’s also Chris Shaw, who has hit .288 with 16 home runs at Triple-A. There’s also an outside chance that Steven Duggar could get a shot next year.

Next: Minor League Spotlight: Steven Duggar

Parker could definitely have a roll as a backup outfielder and a guy who comes off the bench late in the game to hit a home run. However, it will be hard to rely on a player, who swings for the fences and doesn’t often make adjustments, to carry out an everyday role.