Ranking the top 3 camp battles for the SF Giants in 2026

Baseball is right around the corner. Pitchers and catchers report for the SF Giants this week. Once that happens, some camp battles will take place over the course of the next six weeks. Which camp battles will be the most interesting?

Ranking the top 3 camp battles for the SF Giants in 2026

1. Who fills out the bullpen?

The bullpen could look suspiciously like the one that ended last season. That unit was a liability, and they have not made major changes. They have made a few shrewd additions, including Sam Hentges, Jason Foley, and Gregory Santos. Even the addition of Michael Fulmer brings some intrigue to the competition.

The Giants do not really have a blueprint for how they plan to preserve leads and close out games. That is a problem, especially for a team that has invested as much money into the roster as they have.

The bullpen could go in a number of different directions. The mystery should bring some level of interest as well. There are questions up-and-down the bullpen. Who is going to be the team's closer? Which relievers are the leverage arms? How will the Giants fill out the back of the bullpen.

Erik Miller might be one of the only relievers that the Giants can pencil into a role. He will likely be the top option used situationally against left-handed hitters. The rest of that unit will play itself out this spring.

2. The competition for the backup catcher

The Giants brought some competition to the mix for the backup catcher role. They traded for Daniel Susac, and added veteran backstop Eric Haase on a minor league deal. Jesús Rodríguez is raw defensively behind the plate, but he has good contact skills and a track record for hitting in the minors.

Susac likely has the inside track as a Rule 5 pick. If he does not make the team out of spring training, he will need to be offered back to the A's. The 24-year-old catcher is also the most well-rounded from the group.

Ideally, the backup catcher gives the Giants some leverage against left-handed pitchers, so that they can limit Patrick Bailey's exposure in those matchups. Haase has a career .725 OPS against southpaw pitchers, but he is more of a bat-first backstop.

3. Who is the fourth outfielder?

I was debating whether the camp battle for fourth outfielder or one of the backup infielders would be a better story to follow, but the former gets the nod here.

The starting outfield will consist of Heliot Ramos, Harrison Bader, and Jung Hoo Lee. Lee will shift over to right field, which is a better long-term fit for the speedy outfielder. These three players will not play every day, so they will need a reliable fourth option.

Drew Gilbert might have a higher floor given that he can cover all three outfield positions. On the other hand, Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnación are bat-first options, but without much of a track record against major league pitching.

If the Giants want to go with a glove-first option, then Gilbert would have the edge. Grant McCray could be in that mix, too. However, camp battles are often influenced by roster flexibility. Both Encarnación and Matos are out of minor league options, so if they do not make the club, then they would need to be placed on waivers.

There is a chance that there is not enough room for both of them to make the Opening Day roster. There should be an interesting camp battle between the two outfielders. Spring training stats do not carry much weight for the regular season, but they carry meaning for a player who is trying to make the team.