The Giants outrighted centerfielder Luis Basabe to Triple-A Sacramento after he cleared waivers on Thursday. This appeared to be due to an open spot that had to be filled by infielder Tommy La Stella, who signed a three-year deal with the team.
Basabe more than likely wasn’t going to make the Opening Day roster anyway.
Before Basabe was designated for assignment, the Giants anticipated using Basabe this season, and that probably won’t change. The 24-year-old, who was acquired by the Giants last August for cash considerations from the Chicago White Sox, packs a lot of star qualities -- and a ton of power.
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His .143/.333/.143 line with two hits in 18 big-league plate appearances last season didn’t quite showcase that, however … at least not yet.
Before coming over to San Francisco, Basabe was the 11th-best prospect in the White Sox organization according to MLB Pipeline. And during his time playing in the 2018 Futures Game at Nationals Park, he blasted a 104.8 mph-blast off of elite prospect Hunter Greene that traveled a projected 404 feet. He did so in front of his manager, Red Sox legend David Ortiz.
Basabe knows he can hit, that’s never been an issue, and he also likes proving people wrong -- especially if there’s a camera there to record it all.
San Francisco Giants
He had a bit of a delay during the 2019 season after a few nagging injuries, he hit .250 and stole 10 bases in 74 games between Single and Double-A.
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The prospect lists some might salivate over all say the same thing about Basabe: The switch-hitter has a real shot at breaking through to the next level.
Basabe looks to provide outfield depth for the Giants in 2021. An outfield that already possesses Alex Dickerson, Mike Yastrzemski and Mauricio Dubon, who said he’s become accustomed to playing in centerfield after spending the majority of his baseball career playing the infield.