Can speedy SF Giants outfielder end a longstanding franchise drought?

The SF Giants have not had a player steal more than 30 bases since Dave Roberts did so in 2007. Could Jonah Cox finally bring an end to that longstanding drought?

For years, the Giants' primary drought was not having a player reach 30 home runs in a season. They have now done that in consecutive years. Willy Adames ended that drought last year, collecting his 30th home run on the final day of the year.

Now, Rafael Devers looks like he is aiming to become the first Giants hitter to reach 40 home runs since Barry Bonds did so in 2004. Devers is at 35 home runs, and has been on a tear lately.

There has been another drought taking place, and it has been going on for nearly two decades. The Giants will not end that drought this year, but Jonah Cox has shown the potential to be the one to do it.

SF Giants outfielder Jonah Cox is more than just a fast runner on the bases

The Giants have not been known for stealing bases in recent years. Thairo Estrada's 23 steals in 2023 are the most by a Giants player in this decade. For the past several years, the front office has stated that it aims to get faster and more athletic, and every year, the Giants finish near the bottom in steals.

This year will be no different, as San Francisco has 67 steals on the year, which is 26th in baseball. It is hard to change an identity overnight, and the Giants will likely still be one of the slower teams on the bases. Jung Hoo Lee is the current team leader in that category with 12 steals.

Despite playing in only 43 games, Cox has nine steals in 10 chances. That ties him with Casey Schmitt for third in the team.

Cox was always a volume base stealer in the minors, and he was remarkably efficient. He had an 84.6 percent success rate in 201 chances in the minors. It is one thing to steal a lot of bases, and it is another to be efficient at it.

The rookie Giants outfielder is an elite runner, but he is also smart on the bases. Speed helps, but good baserunners know how to read the pitcher, and Cox does that well. It is pretty easy to take Cox's current numbers and extrapolate them to 30 or more stolen bases, even in a part-time role.'

Plus, Cox is hitting the ball well right now. He has an .852 OPS in 87 plate appearances. While his .475 babip will come down at some point, he is hitting more than enough to keep his name in the lineup. More starts means more chances to steal bases.

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