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San Francisco Giants: The best home run hitter since Barry Bonds

By Joel Reuter

28 Sep 2001: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants watches his 68th homerun sail over the centerfield wall durig the 2nd innning against the San Diego Padres at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Harry How/ALLSPORT
28 Sep 2001: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants watches his 68th homerun sail over the centerfield wall durig the 2nd innning against the San Diego Padres at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Harry How/ALLSPORT /
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The San Francisco Giants have not had a true home run threat since Barry Bonds wrapped up his career in 2007. Who has been the best at going deep since then?

Barry Bonds hit 28 home runs in 340 at-bats during his final season with the San Francisco Giants.

That’s one every 12.1 at-bats.

Over the course of his 15 seasons with the team, he launched 586 homers in 6,263 at-bats, which comes out to one every 10.7 at-bats.

That’s elite.

Our goal here was to find the best home run hitters who have donned a Giants uniform since Bonds retired after the 2007 season.

To do that, home run total was not the best measure, as it can often be as much about longevity and sample size as anything else.

Instead, we focused on that previously referenced AB per HR stat.

So let’s dive right into the numbers.

Since the start of the 2008 season, a grand total of 35 players have hit at least 10 home runs for the Giants. Here’s how all 35 stack up in AB per HR (current players in bold):

  1. Pat Burrell (18.9)
  2. Jarrett Parker (22.8)
  3. Juan Uribe (23.0)
  4. Mac Williamson (23.5)
  5. Brandon Belt (27.6)
  6. Mike Morse (27.9)
  7. Cody Ross (28.1)
  8. Aubrey Huff (29.9)
  9. Nick Hundley (29.9)
  10. Pablo Sandoval (29.9)
  11. Madison Bumgarner (30.2)
  12. Hunter Pence (30.4)
  13. Evan Longoria (30.5)
  14. Bengie Molina (31.4)
  15. John Bowker (31.7)
  16. Buster Posey (31.8)
  17. Andrew McCutchen (32.1)
  18. Travis Ishikawa (38.6)
  19. Aaron Rowand (39.8)
  20. Melky Cabrera (41.7)
  21. Brandon Crawford (44.0)
  22. Rich Aurilia (44.1)
  23. Andres Torres (45.7)
  24. Gorkys Hernandez (45.8)
  25. Denard Span (46.5)
  26. Eli Whiteside (47.7)
  27. Nate Schierholtz (47.7)
  28. Matt Duffy (55.6)
  29. Fred Lewis (58.7)
  30. Hector Sanchez (59.7)
  31. Joe Panik (60.7)
  32. Freddy Sanchez (70.2)
  33. Angel Pagan (73.4)
  34. Randy Winn (94.7)
  35. Gregor Blanco (95.0)

In terms of home run total, Buster Posey (134), Pablo Sandoval (122) and Brandon Belt (117) are the franchise leaders since Bonds departed. As you can see, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve been the most dangerous home run threats.

So what’s the takeaway here?

First and foremost, it’s time for the Giants to give Mac Williamson another shot, as he’s currently tearing it up in Triple-A.

Second, finding home run hitters does not have to mean spending big bucks.

Pat Burrell signed a one-year, $1 million deal after he was cut loose by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Juan Uribe joined the Giants on a one-year, $1 million pact, the re-upped on another one-year deal with a raise to $3.25 million.

Mike Morse agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal to join the team.

The Giants don’t need to sign the Bryce Harpers of the world. It would be nice, but they’re capable of adding some thump to the lineup without breaking the bank.

Next. Giants: 10 best first basemen in franchise history

They just need to be willing to take some the same chances that have paid dividends in the past.

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