Giants to take look at Abiatal Avelino in left field with lefty on mound

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Abiatal Avelino appeared in just six games for the Giants last season, but as Bruce Bochy went about his offseason, he occasionally found his cell phone buzzing with a text from the young infielder. Avelino was getting some outfield experience while playing Winter Ball and wanted to let his manager know that he was enjoying the experiment and it was going well.

Bochy talked about Avelino's continued enthusiasm for the role Monday while explaining why Avelino is starting in left field against Diamondbacks lefty Alex Young. The Giants were in a bit of a bind because Mike Yastrzemski is day-to-day after taking a fastball off the hand Sunday. He still has some swelling. Bochy is trying to limit Alex Dickerson's playing time and preferred to start him Tuesday. 

So, Avelino it is. He didn't play any outfield at Triple-A this season, but started two games in left, two in right and three in center over the winter. 

"I could have put Dickerson out there, but I'm trying to pick my spots for him and I wanted to give (Avelino) some at-bats," Bochy said. "He's asked to move around and play different positions."

Bochy said this was the perfect day for that, and Avelino was out early doing work with coaches Hensley Meulens and Shawon Dunston. He'll hit sixth Monday night. 

There was one more option, but Bochy indicated the staff did not get close to calling up Jaylin Davis, who has torn it up since coming over at the trade deadline. Davis has 10 homers in 75 at-bats for the River Cats, but the Giants don't want him coming up to just face lefties a couple times a week. 

"We'd just as soon have him keep going down there and getting his playing time," Bochy said. 

[RELATED: Why Giants' Dickerson says Pablo can return from TJ surgery]

That should change soon. Rosters expand on Sept. 1 and Davis is an obvious choice for a promotion. 

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