SF Giants power-hitting prospect to get reps in the outfield this spring

Power-hitting prospect Parks Harber was among the 19 SF Giants minor leaguers to receive a non-roster camp invite. Harber came up as a corner infield prospect, but he will see some reps in the outfield this spring, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

SF Giants power-hitting prospect to get reps in the outfield this spring

The Giants are also lightly considering playing Bryce Eldridge in the outfield. However, that may be a spring training experiment that does not get off the ground and Buster Posey even said that they will not push too hard on this.

With Eldridge, the premise for the idea is to expand his versatility beyond first base and DH. That would give the Giants a tad more flexibility in terms of managing Eldridge and Rafael Devers’ playing time.

The experiment with Harber already has legs to it and began near the end of last season. He started seeing time in the outfield with the Eugene Emeralds in the final weeks of the year. That was due in part to a shortage of outfielders on that roster.

The 24-year-old prospect earned an invite to the Arizona Fall League (AFL), where he continued to see time in the outfield. In addition to that, he was among the best hitters in the AFL. In 76 plate appearances, Harber posted a 1.196 OPS with three home runs and 15 RBI for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Harber’s primary positions are first base and third base. The Giants have those positions covered for the foreseeable future. Matt Chapman has five years left on his six-year contract. The Giants’ long-term plan is for Eldridge and Devers to split time at first and DH. 

That does not leave much playing time at those positions for Harber, if he eventually pushes the envelope. The Giants are trying to get creative. 

Depending on what happens with Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnación, the outfield depth chart in the upper minors could quickly thin out. That would open up opportunities for Harber or Bo Davidson to move up the depth chart. 

For Harber, that will depend on how well he adjusts to the new position. He is the only Giants player in camp without any experience above High-A, so there is still a lot of development left to realize. Harber will likely begin the season at Double-A, but he is already on the Giants’ radar. He made a strong impression last season by putting up a 174 wRC+, which was second among all minor leaguers with at least 300 plate appearances.