Overlooked utility man could be key X-factor for SF Giants in 2026

Coming into the 2025 season, the SF Giants were content to start the year with Tyler Fitzgerald as their second baseman. He ended up finish the year in the minors, but maybe he can have a rebound in the 2026 season.

Fitzgerald surprised a lot of folks with his stellar 2024 campaign. He got hot with the bat and forced his way into the lineup as the team's starting shortstop after the Giants cycled through several other options before settling on Fitzgerald.

He flashed impressive power in 2024, slashing .280/.334/.497 with 15 home runs and 34 runs batted in. It was a surprising display for a guy known more for his speed than his bat.

SF Giants could get bounce back from Tyler Fitzgerald in 2026

He got off to a rough start in 2025 but was eventually able to figure things out at the plate. He was slashing a respectable .276/.331/.398 at the end of May, but after a rib injury things started to take a turn for the speedy utility player.

Things got so bad that the Giants ended up demoting him to Triple-A in June. He was called back up shortly after due to an injury but was demoted again and made one more brief stint on the roster in August when the Giants tried to use him in a more experimental utility role, sticking him in right field.

However, he was sent down again later in August which made his future with the club look bleak. He slashed a paltry .217/.278/.327 with four home runs and 14 runs batted in on the season. By the end of the year it was fair to question what had happened to him after a breakout 2024?

Maybe that rib injury impacted more than many realized. His numbers in Triple-A were not great either so it seems he was just never able to get comfortable at the plate the way he was in 2024.

But with an offseason to recuperate and make adjustments, perhaps Fitzgerald could carve a role out for himself in 2026.

Unfortunately for him, two players leap frogged him on the second base depth chart as Casey Schmitt took over starting duties and acquitted himself quite well. Christian Koss also played nicely and proved he can be a solid utility man in his own right.

But if Fitzgerald can get hot in spring training or if Schmitt takes a bit longer to recover from wrist surgery than expected, he could potentially earn himself a spot on the roster as a super-utility man who can play anywhere on the diamond.

His speed is always an asset and if he is strong defensively that could make him a useful piece to have on the roster.