Non-roster camp invite records first multi-hit game of the spring for the SF Giants

On Saturday, the SF Giants secured a 10-5 win over the Seattle Mariners to open the Cactus League. There were quite a few notable performances, but non-roster camp invite Jake Holton recorded the first multi-hit game of the spring for San Francisco.

Non-roster camp invite records first multi-hit game of the spring for the SF Giants

Holton was a 10th-round pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2019 out of Creighton University. However, he has Bay Area ties. Holton grew up in San Jose, California, and attended Archbishop Mitty High School.

Quite a few local fans are pulling for Holton to make a good first impression with the Giants, and he is off to a good start. Holton gave the Giants the lead in Saturday's game with an infield single that split the defenders on the right side of the infield.

The right-handed bat added another insurance run in a four-run eighth inning by the Giants offense. This time, it was a clean single up the middle to score Grant McCray. Holton was the only Giants hitter to record a multi-hit game.

Holton joined the Giants on a minor league deal during the offseason. He had spent six seasons in the Tigers organization. Despite putting up quality numbers in the minors, the 27-year-old infielder never rose above Double-A. He has appeared in parts of four seasons in the Eastern League, which is a tough hitter's environment. That league is often a litmus test for Giants prospects, but Holton has put up a strong .808 OPS during his time in that league.

In the batter's box, Holton hits with modest power and has a good blend of plate discipline and contact skills. On defense, he has worked primarily as a first baseman in recent seasons.

Holton was not the only Giants player to make an impact. Daniel Susac tallied one hit in three at-bats, but made plenty of loud contact. Blade Tidwell struck out the side in his one inning of work, and Michael Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning as well. The Giants are having a relatively open competition in the bullpen, and Fulmer can pitch his way onto the Opening Day roster with a strong spring.