The SF Giants welcome back power-hitting outfielder in roster move

The SF Giants welcomed back Heliot Ramos before Sunday's game against the A's. In a corresponding move, Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment, per the team's transaction log.

There have been some bizarre roles for Giants players this year. From Christian Koss barely seeing any time earlier in the year to Bryce Eldridge's initial usage following his promotion to Kennedy not appearing in a game since June 10 while occupying a spot on the active roster.

It is not a great reflection of the front office's ability to put together a roster if there is seemingly no role for players currently on it. It is also a current flaw in Tony Vitello's management. It is just hard to believe that he could not find one spot to use Kennedy over the past couple of weeks. If the Giants cannot fill out a roster with 26 players who can fill various roles, then they are not leveraging all the spots on the roster.

The Giants selected Kennedy's contract at the beginning of June. He was called up, along with Wilkin Ramos, while Logan Porter was placed on waivers and Joel Peguero was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Kennedy was one of the best hitters in the Pacific Coast League this season, as he put up a .967 OPS with eight home runs and 33 RBI in 218 plate appearances for the Sacramento River Cats.

Heliot Ramos returns to SF Giants lineup, and this will force the Giants to get creative

Heliot Ramos is back after missing over a month with a quad strain. No timetable was originally provided, but Buster Posey confirmed that Ramos would have an extended absence. In total, he missed about six weeks.

The power-hitting outfielder got off to a slow start, but started to find a groove at the plate before landing on the injured list in May. Overall, he has is slashing .267/.307/.424 (102 wRC+) with four home runs, 20 RBI, and 19 runs in 176 plated appearances. As has been the case for many Giants hitters this year, Ramos has seen a decline in his walk rate to 5.7 percent.

The return of Ramos will not be without complexity. During his absence, Casey Schmitt shifted to the outfield and did an admirable job learning the position on the fly. With Ramos returning, it could shift Schmitt back into more of a super utility role. Schmitt will still see his name in the lineup a lot, as he has been one of the best hitters on the roster this season.

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