SF Giants infield duo gives club flexibility in camp battle for utility infielder

The SF Giants left side of the duo will consist of Matt Chapman and Willy Adames. This tandem will give the club flexibility in the camp battle for the utility infielder as they just might not need coverage at those positions.

SF Giants infield duo gives club flexibility in camp battle for utility infielder

Chapman has been one of the more durable players in baseball since he debuted with the A's in 2017. Giants fans saw that firsthand in 2024 as he appeared in 154 games. He missed eight games all season, and half were either due to the birth of his first child or signing a long-term extension. Those are great reasons to be out of the lineup.

Similarly, Adames has been one of the more durable shortstops in baseball, appearing in 589 games since the start of 2021. Only Dansby Swanson (618) and Francisco Lindor (598) have appeared in more games among shortstops during that stretch.

The 2024 season was no different as he appeared in 161 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. I think we can give him a pass for that one game he missed.

Today's game is trending more toward load management. However, the Giants have two of the more durable players in baseball covering the left side of the infield. There is a good chance that the coaching staff is expecting Adames and Chapman to assume a similar workload in 2025. Admittedly, durability is a hard quality to project but they have a reliable track record at this point.

If they prove to be as durable as they have been in the past, it gives the Giants a little flexibility in terms of the utility infielder roster battle. Typically, utility gloves need to be able to move around the infield while being passable at every position.

However, the Giants may not necessarily need that with this roster. If everything goes according to plan, there just might not be that many innings in need of coverage at either shortstop or third base. This would allow them to concentrate on second base and ensure they have an insurance option in case Tyler Fitzgerald cannot sustain his production from last season.

Currently, Brett Wisely, Casey Schmitt, and Osleivis Basabe will be vying for the utility infielder role. Wisely would serve as a natural complement as a left-handed bat to a right-handed-heavy infield alignment. Schmitt might offer the highest offensive upside and demonstrated that after a quietly strong finish to the year. Basabe is new to the club but has experience all around the infield with excellent contact skills.