SAN FRANCISCO — Abiatal Avelino found a unique way to open some eyes in his first game with the Giants. Avelino, a shortstop acquired last month in the Andrew McCutchen trade, showed off a strange pre-at-bat routine Saturday in Milwaukee.
Avelino stood on the grass a few feet from home plate, looked out at the field, and then folded his legs inward until his knees touched and practically hit the ground. Then he unfolded and took a practice swing. Avelino said Monday that he’s been doing the routine for five years in an attempt to activate his leg muscles once he gets onto the field.
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“You don’t want to start from zero,” he explained. “You want to stretch so you’re ready to go out there and run the bases.”
The impressive act of flexibility joins other strange pre-at-bat routines for the Giants. Hunter Pence’s golf swing is most well known, but Evan Longoria crouches near the on-deck circle. Avelino said he’s simply trying to stretch all his leg muscles, and this apparently works.
“I’ve been doing it for four and a half years with no injuries,” he said, looking towards the sky. “Thank God.”