SF Giants infielder has strikingly similar profile to former fan favorite

SF Giants infielder Christian Koss has proven to be a nifty bench option for the team this season. He has also proven that early comparisons to former Giant fan favorite Matt Duffy were pretty accurate given the way they play the game.

Both are skinny, lanky infielders known for playing solid defense and despite not having much power in their game they still put the ball in play and hit a lot of line drives. Koss may not be the fan favorite that Duffy became just yet, but those similarities are there.

SF Giants infielder Christian Koss has striking similarity to Matt Duffy

Duffy started out as a bench player for the Giants back in 2014. He played solid for the team and even made a huge play on the bases during the 2014 postseason. It was a prelude to the bigger role he would play on the team in 2015.

The "Duffman" became the starting third baseman in 2015 after Pablo Sandoval departed in free agency and Casey McGehee struggled. He made a push to be NL Rookie of the Year but firmly established himself as a fan favorite with his scrappy play.

Of course, he ended up being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 in one of the more controversial trades in recent memory.

Since then, Koss is definitely the Giants player who has been most reminiscent of Duffy. Koss is similarly scrappy in his style and even his jersey number, 50, is the same one that Duffy wore when he was first called up to the Giants.

When Koss was impressing people back in spring training and when he made the Opening Day roster, he drew some comparisons to Duffy. When he struggled early in the season those comparisons seemed premature, but as he has come on as of late they seem much more apt.

This season, Koss has slashed .252/.298/.360 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in. He has also played solid defense at second base, third base, and shortstop.

Even though he is behind Casey Schmitt in the competition to be the starting second baseman next year, he has taken advantage of some opportunities as of late although with Matt Chapman's return from the IL he has returned to bench duties.

Koss is a nice insurance option to have going into next season. If the Giants have an injury or if Schmitt struggles to start the year, they can plug Koss in and he will probably give them some solid play.

He has been a nice find for the Giants this year and it does not hurt that the way he plays the game brings back memories of Duffy.

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