SF Giants infield prospect looks like a linebacker according to Giants beat writer

SF Giants beat reporter Alex Pavlovic said that two of the team's younger players, Luis Matos and Marco Luciano, have bulked up considerably ahead of the 2024 season. In fact, Pavlovic compared Luciano to being built like NFL linebacker Fred Warner.

SF Giants infield prospect looks like a linebacker according to Giants beat writer

Pavlovic said this on the NBC Sports Bay Area podcast, Giants Talk. Pavlovic joins Cole Kuiper as co-hosts of Giants talk. For those who are familiar with Warner, this is a huge compliment for Luciano and a recognition that his offseason workouts have paid off in terms of added strength.

Now, comparing Luciano to an All-Pro linebacker might be construed as hyperbole, but Pavlovic's point is that these two young players have taken it upon themselves to bulk up ahead of this season.

Luciano flashed some impressive bat speed in the majors last season, so it is possible that the added strength could help. The right-handed bat did not hit a home run in 45 plate appearances with the Giants, but he did blast 15 long balls in the minors in 2023.

Of course, strength has rarely been an issue with Luciano. The added bulk Pavlovic referenced could help him stay on the field as he has missed considerable time in recent seasons due to back injuries.

The Giants have said that they plan to let Luciano run with the starting shortstop job to begin the season, so the extra muscle may help him manage an everyday role.

While Luciano's spot on the roser seems fairly secure barring an injury or a really poor Spring, Luis Matos' role might not be as clear. He can definitely grab a bench spot if he performs well in Spring and could even push Michael Conforto for playing time in left field.

No matter what, it is still interesting to hear that two of the team's most exciting young players bulked up for the season. In a perfect world, Luciano ends up being the shortstop for the next decade and Matos ends up being the starting left fielder for the next decade, breaking the Barry Bonds curse of having a different left fielder every year since his retirement. One can only dream.