SF Giants non-roster outfielder is off to a blistering start in the Cactus League

When the SF Giants everyday outfielders head off to the World Baseball Classic (WBC), it will open playing time for the rest of the group. This includes Victor Bericoto, who is off to a blistering start in the Cactus League.

SF Giants non-roster outfielder is off to a blistering start in the Cactus League

Giants fans know Bericoto well. After all, he is one of the more tenured players in the organization.

Bericoto signed with the Giants during the 2018 - 2019 international signing period out of Venezuela for $25,000. Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and Jairo Pomares were some of the notable signings by the club during that cycle. Luciano and Pomares have departed the organization, and Matos is competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. 

On the other hand, Bericoto has put up respectable numbers throughout his minor league career. This includes putting up a .793 OPS with a 10.1 percent walk rate, 22.5 percent strikeout rate, and a .166 ISO across six minor league seasons.

The right-handed bat’s best season came in 2023 when he registered an .840 OPS with 27 home runs and 86 RBI in 513 plate appearances split between High-A and Double-A. This includes a solid .771 OPS in the Eastern League, which had proven to be a litmus test for Giants hitting prospects.

Over the past couple of seasons, Bericoto has worked primarily in the upper minors. This includes a brief stint at Triple-A in 2025, but he spent the bulk of the year with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

The 24-year-old outfielder re-signed with the Giants before becoming a free agent this past winter. Senior director of player development Kyle Haines joined the Splash Hit Territory podcast in the offseason and highlighted Bericoto, along with Bo Davidson, as players who could help the club in 2026.

Bericoto has rewarded that confidence with a hot start to the spring. He has five hits, including two home runs, and seven RBI in eight Cactus League at-bats. It is hard to be more productive than that in eight at-bats.

The power-hitting outfielder leads the Giants in home runs. His second long ball was a grand slam and came against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 12-4 win on Friday. 

Can Bericoto make the team out of camp? That seems unlikely, as he would need to outperform a handful of outfielders currently on the 40-man roster. Once the Giants have clarity on Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnación’s status, that will impact the outfield depth chart. In the meantime, Bericoto can make a good impression on the new coaching staff, and he is off to a strong start.