Which Giants player is next to have his number retired?

After adding Barry Bonds’ No. 25 to the franchise’s list of retired jersey numbers in 2018, who could be next to have their jersey number retired by the San Francisco Giants?

In a ceremony held on August 11, 2018, the San Francisco Giants broke a long-standing franchise tradition. They retired the number of a former Giants player who had not yet been enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame when they retired No. 25 in honor of Barry Bonds.

Despite not meeting the team’s own past requirement of being enshrined in Cooperstown, he retired as the all-time leader in home runs, walks, and intentional walks. He was also a seven-time MVP, eight-time Gold Glove winner, and a 14-time All-Star. With credentials like that and inching closer to being enshrined in the Hall of Fame as he overcomes his connections to “Steroid Era” baseball, it is easy to see why the storied franchise changed the rules for Bonds.

That gesture by the franchise not only immortalized one of the best sluggers in baseball history, but it also opened the doors to something more. The Giants may now be more willing to look at additional honorees who have had an impact on the team.

Many former Giants line the exterior walls of Oracle Park with their names, faces, and contributions detailed on bronze plaques. But who will be the next Giant to be granted the honor of never having their number worn again?

The Giants have many deserving options after their dynastic run through the 2010s, so let’s take a look at who may be considered.

No. 15: Bruce Bochy

Bruce Bochy became first manager to lead the San Francisco Giants to a World Series title since the team moved to the Bay Area in 1958 when they defeated the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series. That was also the first major championship won by a Bay Area sports team since the Oakland Athletics swept the Giants in the 1989 World Series.

Bochy officially retired from managing in the MLB at the conclusion of the 2019 season, closing the chapter of one of the best decades in Giants history.

His career numbers as a manager are among baseball’s elite. He finished with 4,032 games managed in 12 years with the San Diego Padres and 13 with the Giants, good for the eight most in MLB history. He was the 11th manager to surpass the 2,000 win plateau, and all 10 before him were elected to the Hall of Fame. He owns a .500 win percentage that includes four NL pennants and three World Series titles.

He was a master of bullpen strategy and matchups, and he had to be, as Tyler Kepner of the New York Times noted:

No player hit more than 26 homers in any of the Giants’ championship seasons, and only one had 90 runs batted in — Posey, with 103 in 2012. Yet Bochy made the formula work.

Though not yet enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is hard to imagine Bochy being on the outside looking in for long.

The question now is will the Giants wait for his enshrinement, or retire his number before he becomes eligible on the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) ballot?

The Homegrown Giants

Buster Posey‘s No. 28 will undoubtedly be hung between Juan Marichal‘s No. 27 and Orlando Cepeda‘s No. 30 at some point in the future. His quiet leadership in the clubhouse, management of games from behind the plate as the team’s catcher, and his stellar clutch hitting with the franchise has earned him a chapter in the Giants history books.

But he was just one half of the Giants’ battery that fueled the team’s success through the 2010s. The other half was the pitching of Madison Bumgarner (No. 40), Tim Lincecum (No. 55), and Matt Cain (No. 18).

It is difficult to imagine a world where you honor one or some of the group, but not all of them together. Those four defined the franchise’s legacy and mentality as an organization through their dynastic run of the 2010’s.

The quartet won three World Series rings together. Buster Posey caught games that were career-defining moments for the trio of pitchers. Lincecum and Bumgarner came in from the bullpen in relief to assist in securing World Series championships. Bumgarner even gave up his final start of the 2018 season to allow Matt Cain to have one final outing in San Francisco.

It is impossible write the history of any one of these individuals without including the others. As such, it only feels right that the four of them should be honored in the same ways in the future.

But even if you look at them as individuals, each of the “homegrown Giants” still has incredible career highlights.

Buster Posey: World Series champion (three times), Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Gold Glove winner, Silver Slugger (four times) and All-Star (six times)

Madison Bumgarner: World Series champion (three times), World Series Most Valuable Player, National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, Silver Slugger (two times) and All-Star (four times)

Tim Lincecum: World Series champion (three times), Cy Young Award (two times, back-to-back), All-Star (four times), no-hitter (two times)

Matt Cain: World Series champion (three times), perfect game (only one in Giants franchise history)

Each deserves to have their number retired and hung at Oracle Park based on their individual merits. Each should and likely will have a day to address the crowd at Oracle Park when their number is revealed in the left field corner amongst the other Giants legends.

But how about one extra day to celebrate their accomplishments together, too?

No. 21: Jeff Kent

As per Giants franchise tradition, if Jeff Kent becomes enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, there is no doubt his No. 21 will be hung at Oracle Park.

A career breakdown on Kent was posted not long ago, and his career totals are certainly deserving of the honor of enshrinement. But despite him not seeing as much momentum for making into Cooperstown as teammate Bonds, Kent’s tenure with the Giants makes him deserving of the retirement of his number as well.

While Bonds made history, Kent was indisputably one of the reasons that could happen.

Hitting behind Bonds in the order most games, Kent’s power forced pitchers to attack Bonds more frequently. Otherwise, the intentional walk allowed Kent to hit with at least one runner on base. Kent’s ability to hit for power and find the gaps for doubles, coupled with Bonds’ speed, made for a tandem no pitcher enjoyed facing.

Over six season with the Giants from 1997-2002, Kent slashed .297/.368/.535 with 175 home runs, 689 RBI and 57 stolen bases. He won the NL MVP award in 2000 with the Giants, and his first three appearances in the All-Star game were in a San Francisco uniform. He won the Silver Slugger three times with the Giants as well.

We await to see whether or not Kent makes it into the Hall of Fame — he is in his seventh year of eligibility out of the maximum 10 — but he could very well still be honored by the San Francisco Giants if the BBWAA do not vote him in.

Who do you think will be the next San Francisco Giants player to have his number retired? Let us know in the comments.