Shortstop Willy Adames blasts first home run in SF Giants uniform

The SF Giants signed shortstop Willy Adames to the richest contract in franchise history in the offseason hoping he could be a key power threat for the team. We got a glimpse of his power in Wednesday's Cactus League game.

In the top of the 4th inning, Adames hit an opposite field home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The ball went 417 feet and had an exit velocity of 105.3 miles per hour. Giants radio announcer F.P. Santangelo helpfully pointed out that the ball would not have been a home run in San Francisco at Oracle Park, but it is still nice to see Adames show off his power.

A video of Adames' homer can be viewed here via the team's social media.

SF Giants shortstop Willy Adames hits first homer with new team

Adames has hit some home runs in live batting practice including against staff ace Logan Webb who he has owned throughout his career no matter what jersey he is wearing. It is still refreshing to see Adames hit one out of the ballpark against someone who is not a fellow teammate.

The 29-year-old has been a consistent power threat in his career. He has hit 24 home runs or more in each of the past four big league seasons and blasted 32 big ones as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers last season.

Of course, as Santagelo notes, we do not know how well his power will transfer now that he will be playing half his games in the pitcher-friendly confines of Oracle Park. Yet, if he stays healthy and does not see a significant power dropoff he should be able to hit 20-something homers for the Giants this season.

A recent prediction for every MLB team's home run leader left Adames out for the Giants in a minor snub. Perhaps he can use that as bulletin board material and can be the first Giant to hit 30 home runs in a season since Barry Bonds did it all the way back in 2004.

Beyond his power, Adames has brought leadership and positivity to the team and, along with third baseman Matt Chapman, figures to be a role model for young players on the Giants for years to come.

It is nice to see him blast his first homer in a Giants uniform in a spring training game. One can only hope that it is the first of many to come for the shortstop.