3 biggest SF Giants surprises from the first half of the season

We already took a look at three of the players who have been the hardest to watch as an SF Giants fan, but sometimes, the glass is half full. The Giants, despite looking up at three other teams in their division, have still given their fans plenty of reasons to tune in and watch every day. What have been the three biggest surprises thus far?

3 biggest SF Giants surprises from the first half of the season

The Giants have a 42-45 record, which is on the outside of the playoff race, but not by much. When the front office constructed this roster, it was safe to assume that the team's identity would focus around pitching and defense.

That has not been the case. The offense has been surprisingly solid with a .248/.317/.393 (105 wRC+) triple-slash line. That is more than enough offensive production even if the Giants do not have a 30-homer hitter in the lineup.

1. LaMonte Wade Jr.

Late Night LaMonte Wade Jr. has been an on-base machine this year – his sensational .460 OBP would lead the major leagues if he had enough plate appearances to qualify, far outpacing current major league leader: Juan Soto’s .437 mark.

Wade has demonstrated exceptional command of the strike zone, with his career-best walk rate of 19.3% nearly matching his 22.2% strikeout rate. He’s also been doing a fantastic job of making contact with a .326 batting average, though his .434 BABIP is due for regression and his power has been surprisingly muted.

Just nine of his 45 hits have gone for extra bases, and only two of those were home runs. Even so, his 161 wRC+ would be eighth-best in MLB with more plate appearances, and he has done enough against lefty pitching to warrant evolving into a solid everyday player rather than the platoon option he once was.