SF Giants promote hot-hitting outfielder in flurry of roster moves

Hot-hitting outfielder Wade Meckler and his fantastic mustache have completed a meteoric rise through the farm system. The SF Giants called him up on Monday in a flurry of roster moves.

SF Giants promote hot-hitting outfielder in flurry of roster moves

In addition to this, Luis González was designated for assignment while Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. The Giants also promoted Johan Camargo. However, both Luis Matos and Mark Mathias were optioned.

I will take a moment to explain the flurry of moves that were made. To make room on the 40-man roster for Meckler and Camargo, the Giants needed to free up spots, which they did by placing González on waivers and moving DeSclafani to the 60-day injured list. Then, to create room on the active roster for those two, two players had to be subtracted, which they did by sending down Matos and Mathias.

Mecker's rapid ascent through the minors is one of the more rare occurences you will see. The Giants selected him in the eighth round of last year's draft out of Oregon State University, Just over a year later, he is making his major league debut for the Giants against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The left-handed bat began the season in High-A, but hit at every stop along the way before reaching the majors in his first full season. Pablo Sandoval followed a similar path in 2008, but bypassed Triple-A when he reached the majors. A year later, Dan Runzler started the 2009 season in Low-A and pitched his way up to the majors by the end of that year.

Nevertheless, reaching the majors in his first full season is even rarer. Tim Lincecum spent almost no time in the minors before debuting with the Giants in May of 2007 and Buster Posey followed a similar pattern as he reached the majors in 2009 after being drafted in the prior year. This is all to say that Meckler is in rare company.

It felt like the Giants had high hopes for Meckler even before the season began. He spent some time in major league camp this spring, which is not huge news in and of itself. However, given that he was an eighth-round pick and drafted less than a year before camp began, it seemed like a minor form of recognition by the Giants.

The 23-year-old excelled at every level in 2023, slashing .379/.463/.522 with five home runs, 46 RBI, and 55 runs in 253 plate appearances. He recorded nearly as many walks (39) as strikeouts (43) this season while never looking overmatched even as the competition improved.

Meckler spent the bulk of his time in the corner outfield spots this year, but he could see a lot of time in center field with Matos back in Triple-A and Mike Yastrzemski still on the injured list.