Why a pair of SF Giants prospects might be blocked from joining club in 2026

Bo Davidson and Scott Bandura are both making a strong case to join the SF Giants before the end of this year. However, as left-handed-hitting outfielders, the pair of SF Giants prospects might be blocked on the depth chart.

The Giants already have four left-handed-hitting outfielders on the roster. This includes Jung Hoo Lee, Drew Gilbert, Turner Hill, and Grant McCray. Lee will continue to see regular playing time, along with Gilbert, who has established himself as a reliable role player.

Hill has done well in a very small sample of just 19 plate appearances, but on paper, he fills a similar role to Gilbert as the potential strong side of a platoon. McCray is lower on the depth chart and joined the roster as part of the flurry of roster moves that took place on Monday.

Lee and Gilbert will assume most of the plate appearances in the outfield. When a left-handed pitcher is on the mound, Jonah Cox will see his name in the lineup. If Hill settles into a platoon role against right-handed pitching, then playing time in the outfield will quickly dry up over the next five weeks.

The SF Giants may not have a lot of playing time currently for Scott Bandura and Bo Davidson

This would make it difficult for another left-handed-hitting outfielder to join the club before the end of the year. Regardless, Bo Davidson and Scott Bandura are making a strong case for a promotion.

Both outfield prospects began the year in Double-A. Bandura was the first to earn a promotion to Triple-A. Since then, he is slashing .321/.395/.482 (130 wRC+) with eight home runs, 56 RBI, and 58 runs in 354 plate appearances. This includes a 10.7 percent walk rate, 15.0 percent strikeout rate, and .161 ISO. Plus, Bandura has 20 steals in 21 chances with the Sacramento River Cats. He is one of the better baserunners in the organization and can steal at a relatively high volume.

On the other hand, Davidson has been on a tear at the plate since the middle of August. He got off to a slow start in Triple-A, but the topline numbers are certainly worthy of a promotion now. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .305/.391/.519 (135 wRC+) with six home runs, 27 RBI, and 23 runs in 151 plate appearances with Sacramento. He is another solid baserunner as well, stealing five bases in five chances.

Not surprisingly, both outfielders have stronger platoon splits against right-handed pitching. In a sense, they do a lot of the same things that the players ahead of them on the depth chart do. There just would not be a lot of playing time, given the current outfield alignment.

It might take an injury to create an opening on the major league roster. It also might be best for Bandura and Davidson to continue getting reps in Triple-A to finish out the year, since they are still somewhat new to the level.

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