SF Giants can reunite with journeyman slugger as DH option

The SF Giants do not have a clear designated hitter in their lineup going into 2025. They have some interesting options for the role, but they could sign a familiar face in journeyman slugger Adam Duvall who was drafted by San Francisco.

Duvall was drafted by the Giants in 2010 and made his MLB debut with San Francisco in 2014. That season he slashed .192/.234/.342 with three home runs and five RBI in 73 at-bats across 28 games.

He seemed like a promising outfield prospect for the Giants, but they traded him in 2015 to the Cincinnati Reds in the trade that brought back starting pitcher Mike Leake.

SF Giants could bring back familiar face in Adam Duvall as DH option

Leake only pitched in 2015 for the Giants and did not help them reach the postseason with a record of 2-5 and a 4.07 ERA.

The trade looked like a pretty bad mistake in 2016 when Duvall was an All-Star with the Reds. That season he slashed .241/.297/.498 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI, albeit in a hitter-friendly park. He followed that up with a similar campaign in 2017, blasting 31 homers and 99 RBI.

Since then, Duvall has bounced around to the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, and Boston Red Sox. He had a great year in 2021 where he hit 38 home runs and drove in 113 runs in a season he started with Miami before being traded back to the Braves and helping them win a World Series championship.

At age 36, he is not the same power threat that he once was. Yet, he still has pop in his bat. Last season with Atlanta he hit 11 home runs in 303 at-bats. He may be a more reliable power threat than someone like Wilmer Flores or Jerar Encarnación.

He can still play the corner outfield spots or be a first baseman if need be, but designated hitter is probably where he is best suited. He should not be a permanent DH, but he could at least be a solid option against lefties if the Giants decide to move on from Flores and do not have a ton of confidence in their other options.

It is not a perfect fit, but under the right circumstances a reunion could be in order if the Giants are looking to add a little pop to their lineup without breaking the bank.