SF Giants add former Diamondbacks, Phillies infielder on minor league deal

The SF Giants bolstered infield depth in the upper minors this week. According to a team announcement by the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League, infielder Drew Ellis has joined the Giants on a minor league deal.

SF Giants add former Diamondbacks, Phillies infielder on minor league deal

Despite having a lot of experience in Triple-A, Ellis has been assigned to Richmond. The Sacramento River Cats' infield alignment currently consists Jake Lamb, Osleivis Basabe, Devin Mann, Brett Auerbach, and Sergio Alcántara.

Sacramento also has three Giants players on rehab assignments, including Casey Schmitt, Tyler Fitzgerald, and Jerar Encarnación. Schmitt and Fitzgerald can return as soon as the Giants deem them ready. They are both past the 10-day minimum for the injured list.

On the other hand, Encarnación will be with the River Cats for at least 10 more days. He is not eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until May 26.

The Giants have been active in minor league free agency lately. Within the past couple of weeks, they have brought in Ellis, Mann, Cal Mitchell, and Daniel Johnson on minor league deals. Not every move is designed to improve the major league club. The minor league teams need help as well.

Ellis was originally a second-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the University of Louisville in 2017. He was college teammates with Fitzgerald and former Giants second rounder Logan Wyatt.

The 29-year-old infielder has posted a .243/.352/.456 line with a 13.3 percent walk rate, 22.6 percent strikeout rate, and .203 ISO across seven minor league seasons. He has reached double-digit home runs in five of those seasons.

Ellis has posted an .855 OPS in parts of four seasons in Triple-A. He has appeared briefly in the majors over the past couple of seasons, but has not found much success. Though, he tallied two home runs in 23 at-bats with the Philadelphia Phillies last season.

In the field, Ellis has experience all over the diamond. However, much of his playing time has been at first and third base, whereas playing time up the middle has been sporadic in recent seasons.

The 2017 draftee joined the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League this season, where he posted a 1.231 OPS with five home runs and 11 RBI in 60 plate appearances.