Predicting the 2022 SF Giants Opening Day roster

Opening Day is less than two weeks away and the SF Giants continue to trim the camp roster in preparation for the season. When April 8 rolls around, what will the Opening Day roster look like?

Predicting the 2022 SF Giants Opening Day roster

There are several caveats that need to be mentioned before we get started. The first one is that both outfield prospect Heliot Ramos and pitching prospect Sean Hjelle were optioned on Monday, leaving 34 players in camp who are on the 40-man roster.

Given the shortened nature of spring training, teams will be allowed to expand the active roster to 28 players in April. This bodes well for several players who are out of options.

On a different note, the Giants received some tough news on Evan Longoria's status for the start of the season. The veteran third baseman will undergo surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger. He will begin the season on the injured list. Tommy La Stella's status is in doubt as he recovers from Achilles surgery.

Brandon Belt and LaMonte Wade Jr. are both battling knee ailments, but no indication has been given as to whether they will miss Opening Day. For now, I am assuming that Longoria and La Stella are the only two players who begin the season on the injured list.

Lastly, I want to emphasize that the Opening Day roster tends to receive disproportionate scrutiny but teams typically opt to preserve organizational inventory. It is not necessarily the best 28 players, rather it is the roster that does not immediately burn depth. Without further adieu, here it is:

Catcher (2): Joey Bart and Curt Casali

Infielders (6): Belt, Brandon Crawford, Wilmer Flores, Thairo Estrada, Mauricio Dubón, and Jason Vosler

Outfielders (6): Wade, Joc Pederson, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, Darin Ruf, and Steven Duggar

Starting pitchers (5): Logan Webb, Carlos Rodón, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Alex Cobb

Relievers (9): Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers, Jarlin García, Dominic Leone, Zack Littell, Camilo Doval, Kervin Castro, José Álvarez, and Tyler Beede.

Dubón likely was going to make the Opening Day roster anyway, but the Longoria injury creates an added need. Beede has struggled so far this spring (3.2 innings, 6 earned runs), but it feels like they will at least begin the season with him on the roster. Both Dubón and Beede will need to prove a lot in the first month of the season to stick.