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SF Giants slugger Willy Adames shaking off early-season trend in 2026

Off to an unusually strong start
ByJeff Young|
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Apr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (2) reacts after stealing second base against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (2) reacts after stealing second base against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images

SF Giants slugger Willy Adames has been a slow starter throughout his nine-year career. However, he is shaking off that trend in 2026 with an unusually strong beginning of the year.

SF Giants slugger Willy Adames shaking off early-season trend in 2026

Adames began the season hitting in the middle of the lineup, but he has shifted to the leadoff spot and that move has seemingly paid dividends. It is a sign of how baseball has changed recently.

In the past, Adames would have been the type of hitter who hits in the middle of the lineup. That is who he has been throughout much of his career. He has reached at least 30 home runs three times in his career, and that is the type of bat that teams typically want hitting with runners on base.

However, baseball has shifted away from having more of a speedy option atop the lineup and using more of a well-rounded hitter instead. For example, James Wood has often been used at leadoff for the Washington Nationals since he made his debut in 2023. Wood is a quality runner, but his profile is not one that fans would typically associate with traditional leadoff hitters.

The goal with this approach is to maximize plate appearances for the better hitters. That has been the case for Adames in the early going this year.

Adames has been a slow starter throughout his career. That was especially true in his first season with San Francisco, where he struggled to a .680 OPS in the first half of the year. In his career, Adames has a .693 OPS in the first month of the year.

As the weather warms up, so does Adames' bat. His numbers only go up from there. However, the 2026 season has been different in this regard. He is off to a surprisingly strong start, bucking that early-season trend. He is hitting .262/.311/.488 (123 wRC+) with three home runs, six RBI, and 11 runs in 90 plate appearances.

The Giants' offense has struggled right out of the gates. However, the bats have woken up against a Washington Nationals pitching staff that has been among the worst in baseball. Adames is one of the few who has performed steadily in the early going.

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