What is going on with the SF Giants outfield?

The SF Giants outfield is not just off to a rough start, it is the worst in baseball by some measures. For example, that unit has put up -1.2 fWAR through the first 13 games of the year.

What is going on with the SF Giants outfield?

The Cincinnati Reds are 29th in that category with -0.7 fWAR. I know it is early, so we have to consider all those superlatives when evaluating anything in a small sample.

The Giants' outfield last year was not necessarily a strength, but it was certainly more valuable than what the current unit is trending. In 2025, the Giants outfield put up 4.1 fWAR, which sat around the middle of the pack. It was not great, but not an extreme weakness as well in terms of total value.

For the 2026 Giants outfield to replicate that mark, they have to put up 5.3 fWAR through the remainder of the year. That is certainly a doable goal.

While last year's outfield put up respectable marks, there were some splinters along the way, especially on the defensive end. They were last in baseball with -18 Outs Above Average (OAA). The front office aimed to improve outfield defense, and did so by bringing in Harrison Bader. Bader has been among the best defensive outfielders since he made his major league debut in 2017.

Of course, the move shifted Jung Hoo Lee over to right field. In the early going, Lee has looked more comfortable, and outfield defense has not been a story at all.

However, no one from that group has gotten off to a strong start. Heliot Ramos' strikeout rate is among the highest in baseball among qualified hitters. That number has not stabilized yet, but if it does, the Giants will have a problem on their hands.

Similarly, Lee has gotten off to a tough start. He has a .439 OPS in 49 plate appearances. This could just be a slump to start the year, and it is just a fraction to draw any hard conclusions. Interestingly, his strikeout rate is up to 18.4 percent, which is much higher than his 11.3 percent career mark.

The Giants should have a firm idea of what type of player Lee is by the end of the year. A change in role to more of a platoon player would make sense for him and the Giants. It is not about minimizing his role on the team, but putting him in a better spot to succeed by limiting his exposure against left-handed pitching.

Lastly, Harrison Bader has struggled to a .353 OPS in 47 plate appearances. Again, it is too soon to draw any conclusion. Across his 10-year career, there has been a pretty wide range in performance outcomes. This is to say that expecting him to replicate his numbers from last season is probably asking too much. Plus, the Giants signed him for his glove. If he hits a little bit, that will be viewed as a bonus.

The outfield is off to a rough start. Sooner rather than later, it could open up playing time for others, but they are not quite there yet. When the Giants sketched out this season, they expected their everyday outfielders to make an impact.