Speedy SF Giants outfielder returns to field amid growing camp battle

On Tuesday, Drew Gilbert returned to the lineup for the first time in two weeks, as he dealt with a shoulder ailment. The speedy SF Giants rejoins a growing camp battle for fourth outfielder that could go down to the wire.

Speedy SF Giants outfielder returns to field amid growing camp battle

When spring training began, there was a good case for Gilbert making the team. He is a capable defender at all three outfield positions. While his bat might leave something to be desired, the defensive ability fits what the Giants could be looking for in a fourth outfielder.

After all, outfield defense was a problem for San Francisco last season. The Giants' outfield defense was near the bottom in nearly every defensive metric. This includes putting up -18 Outs Above Average, which was the worst mark in 2025.

The Giants hope to see improvement in that category. They added Harrison Bader and shifted Jung Hoo Lee to right field. Bader has been one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball since he made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017. The one unknown is Lee, who has the speed and arm to turn into a reliable defender in right field.

On the other hand, Drew Gilbert proved to be a competent defender in center field and right field during his brief time with the Giants at the end of last season. He only saw three innings of work in left field.

The left-handed bat registered a .598 OPS with three home runs and 13 RBI in 109 plate appearances last season. So far this spring, he has tallied three hits in 12 at-bats.

The competition for the fourth outfield spot has been a strong one this spring. Luis Matos has been one of the better hitters in camp. Grant McCray has made notable strides in improving his in-zone contact rate, albeit in a small sample. The Giants will likely want to see that play out in Triple-A to start the year. Plus, Will Brennan has looked good on both sides of the ball.

Matos is the only one without any minor league options, so that, along with how he has performed, likely gives him an edge in the competition. Gilbert is back in the mix, but it facing an uphill battle to make the team.