SF Giants: Jason Vosler Opening Eyes in Cactus League

The SF Giants made an interesting addition earlier in the offseason and he is quickly opening eyes in camp.

Jason Vosler has made a lot of loud contact at that plate for the SF Giants this spring and is making a legitimate push for an Opening Day roster spot.

Jason Vosler opening eyes in Cactus League for SF Giants

When the offseason began, the front office stated their intention to sign a left-handed bat. They quickly crossed that goal off of the list by signing Vosler to a major-league contract. Despite having no prior major-league experience, San Francisco felt comfortable allocating a valuable 40-man roster spot to the longtime minor leaguer.

He was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 16th round of the 2014 draft as a corner infielder, but he was blocked by Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo on the Cubs roster. The 27-year-old brings a selective approach, modest power, and some positional versatility to the table.

In six minor-league seasons, he has slashed .255/.338/.428 with 78 home runs and 339 RBI. This comes with a solid 9.6 percent walk rate against a 20.9 percent strikeout rate, so he has the plate discipline and contact skills that the front office covets. Furthermore, Vosler had reached the 20-home run plateau in each of the last three minor-league seasons.

The Giants seem poised to not only give him a shot but allow him to carve out a role on the 2021 roster. No one in Giants camp has seen more at-bats (36) than the corner infielder and he has rewarded them with a solid performance at the plate.

As a disclaimer, the Cactus League is a very hitter-friendly environment and the stats, oftentimes, can be misleading. That said, Vosler has registered a .333/.342/.500 line with four doubles, one triple, and two RBI while consistently making hard contact:

In the video, Vosler pulls the ball down the right-field line. However, I have been more impressed with his opposite-field approach. He is showing that he can cover both sides of the plate and that is an important trait for a lefty.

In the field, the coaching staff has begun experimenting with Vosler. He has plenty of pro experience at first base and third base, but he has seen some playing time this spring at second base and left field as well. He has some experience at second base and is new to left field, but the added versatility will only help his case.

As a left-handed bat, Vosler seems like a natural platoon complement to the right-handed-hitter Evan Longoria at the hot corner. The Giants’ infield mix looks set with Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, Donovan Solano, and Wilmer Flores. However, Vosler is making this a difficult decision and that is a good thing for San Francisco.