The Giants have claimed outfielder Ryan McKenna off waivers from the Orioles, FanSided’s Robert Murray stories (X hyperlink). McKenna was designated for project earlier this week, and he’ll now change groups for the primary time in his 9 professional seasons.
It’s an apparent match for a Giants staff that’s battling via a swath of accidents, notably within the outfield ranks. Jung Hoo Lee simply underwent season-ending shoulder surgical procedure, and each Michael Conforto and Austin Slater are additionally at the moment sidelined. With shortstop Nick Ahmed and each catchers (starter Patrick Bailey and backup Tom Murphy) out, San Francisco has been pressured to dig deep into its depth chart, and likewise pursue outdoors assist just like the latest signing of veteran catcher Curt Casali.
McKenna represents one other exterior add, and he brings versatility in his means to play all three outfield positions at no less than a median degree. Luis Matos and Heliot Ramos have gotten lots of the taking part in time within the outfield with so most of the regulars out, and each have performed effectively alongside Mike Yastrzemski within the makeshift beginning association. McKenna will deliver some additional depth to that blend, since Blake Sabol has been restricted to catcher and utilityman Tyler Fitzgerald might be deployed extra strictly within the infield.
McKenna can also be a right-handed hitter who can complement the lefty-swinging Yastrzemski, although McKenna has by no means introduced a lot punch on the plate. Over 517 profession MLB plate appearances, McKenna has hit simply .224/.302/.332 with eight residence runs. He additionally has a way more spectacular .261/.359/.556 slash line over 274 PA at Triple-A, with a lot of that injury going down throughout an enormous 2021 marketing campaign.
Regardless of the dearth of pop, it’s potential the Orioles won’t have felt compelled to half with McKenna if the staff wasn’t so absurdly stacked with outfield expertise. In a way, having a clear-cut bench participant like McKenna was beneficial for the O’s because it wasn’t an enormous deal if McKenna solely acquired sporadic taking part in time, whereas sitting a Heston Kjerstad or a Kyle Stowers for days at a time wasn’t useful for his or her growth. Matos and Ramos are each taking part in effectively sufficient that this sort of scenario won’t current itself in San Francisco, as there must be loads of taking part in time accessible till among the injured place gamers return.