5 call-ups who could immediately bolster the struggling SF Giants lineup

The SF Giants have gotten off to a rough start in 2024. Because of the struggles on offense, there are already calls for the Giants to call up some of their younger players from the minor leagues. Here are 5 players the team could call up to bolster the offense.

5 call-ups who could immediately bolster the struggling SF Giants lineup

They split their opening series against the Padres and took two out of three games against the Padres at home. Outside of that, they were swept by the Dodgers and lost a series to the Nationals at home.

The team has struggled immensely on offense. There has been a dearth of home runs and it seems like they just cannot get that one big hit to open the floodgates and get things rolling on offense. The game on Tuesday against the Nationals was evidence of that. Down two runs in the 9th inning, the Giants loaded the bases with no outs and the game ended bleakly on a ground ball to the pitcher that resulted in a force out at home and then a double play.

Of course, it is still ridiculously early in the season. There is still plenty of time for the Giants to turn things around on offense. If you remember all the way back to last season, the Giants finished April with a record of 11-16. A hot May got the team back to .500 and an even hotter June got them 10 games over .500.

Sometimes it just takes time for things to get going in a long, 162-game season. Eventually, you would think that guys will turn things around and start hitting at a level they are capable of.

It is far too early to push a panic button, but if the offense continues to struggle for the next few weeks then the Giants may be forced to try to shake things up.

If they do decide to shake things up, they could call up one or two players in the minors to provide a burst of energy, or simply to shake things up, in their currently struggling lineup.

The first player on this list is someone many fans believe should have made the Opening Day roster.

5 call-ups who could immediately bolster the struggling SF Giants lineup

Number one: Outfielder Luis Matos

The young outfielder Luis Matos absolutely tore it up in Spring Training. He hit a number of impressive home runs and was probably the best hitter on the team during those exhibition games.

However, he was left off the Opening Day roster. This is due to the fact that Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater, two veterans who have struggled mightily to start this season, are ahead of him on the depth chart currently.

Of course, that could change if the two veterans continue to struggle and Matos continues to hit well in Triple-A Sacramento. Matos has cooled off a bit in Triple-A after a hot start that saw him hit two home runs in his first game of the season.

Despite this, it seems like a Matos call-up could be imminent if the offense continues to struggle. The Giants would certainly not get rid of Slater or Yastrzemski so early in the season to make room for Matos, but they could demote a bench player like Tyler Fitzgerald to sacrifice some defensive versatility for some offensive pop.

The next minor leaguer is a guy who could have taken the starting shortstop job and run with it if he had a stronger Spring Training.

5 call-ups who could immediately bolster the struggling SF Giants lineup

Number Two: Shortstop Marco Luciano

Throughout the offseason, the Giants seemed to suggest that Marco Luciano was the favorite for the starting shortstop job. Unfortunately, a cold spring prevented that from happening. He began to turn things around with his bat later in Spring Training, but by that point the veteran invite to camp Nick Ahmed had done enough with his bat and glove to earn the starting job.

Ahmed has done a good job on defense so far this season, which is the main reason why he is in the lineup. With a pitching staff that puts the ball on the ground as much as the Giants, it makes a lot of sense why they would like to have a glove like Ahmed's at short.

Ahmed has not hit poorly by any means, but there is room for improvement. Luciano has gotten off to a hot start in Triple-A, with 13 hits in 35 at-bats as of this writing. In his brief debut last season, Luciano proved that he can hit the ball really hard which would be welcome in this lineup currently.

Of course, the Giants would be sacrificing defense if they replaced Ahmed with Luciano at shortstop. Perhaps they could mix Luciano in at second base if Thairo Estrada continues to struggle at the plate.

The next player was a big part of the team last season and he could provide a spark again.

5 call-ups who could immediately bolster the struggling SF Giants lineup

Number Three: Outfielder Blake Sabol

Blake Sabol was a very pleasant surprise for the Giants in 2023. As a former Rule 5 draftee, the Giants stuck him on the roster to see what he was capable of and he proved he was pretty solid at the plate. In 2023 he hit .235/.301/.394 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI.

The Giants played him more at catcher last season, but this year it seems more like they want him to be an outfielder and first baseman. That could give the Giants a reason to call him up and play him at a corner outfielder spot or first base to see if he can provide any sort of spark for the team.

Sabol has not gotten off to a hot start in Triple-A. As of this writing he only has 4 hits in 28 at-bats. It is still early so he can heat up, but his solid 2023 campaign should be taken into account. It sure would have helped to have his late-game heroics against the Nationals on Tuesday night.

The next player is a young outfielder who could finally prove himself with the Giants.

5 call-ups who could immediately bolster the struggling SF Giants lineup

Number Five: Infielder Casey Schmitt

Last season when Casey Schmitt was called up in early May, he tore the cover off the ball and impressed with his strong arm. There were some who even thought he was the heir apparent to Brandon Crawford at shortstop.

However, his bat cooled off more and more throughout the season and he ended the season with a batting average in the low .200's. The signing of Matt Chapman made it clear that Schmitt would not be in the mix for playing a ton of third base, but he can still play shortstop and second base which makes him a versatile choice for the team.

Schmitt is off to a very cool start in Triple-A, but if his bat can heat up by the end of the month perhaps the Giants can call him up and he can provide that spark like he did in early May of last year. He could play shortstop and second or give Chapman a day off when he needs a rest and, if he hits well, could force himself into the lineup on a more consistent basis.

As of right now, it seems like manager Bob Melvin is not going to make any kneejerk reactions despite the offense's slow start. He said as much recently after another loss. And the Giants should not make any rash decisions. It is still early and there is time for the offense to get on track.

However, if these offensive struggles persist throughout the rest of this month, it would not be at all surprising to see the Giants call up one or two of these five players to see if they can provide a spark and get the offense going.