Astros Mauricio Dubón says SF Giants did not treat him 'the right way'
Former SF Giants center fielder/infielder Mauricio Dubón had some choice words about his former organization after he helped propel the Houston Astros to a 7-3 victory on Monday. Dubón finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and a pivotal double. In his postgame availability, he told reporters that his history with the Giants gave him added motivation going into the game.
Astros Mauricio Dubón reacts after doubling against the SF Giants. (2023)
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
"I was not treated the right way over there," Dubón said in reference to his tenure with the Giants. "Coming here and being a family here and being able to perform the way I'm performing now, the human side of me comes out."
Dubón was asked to elaborate on what about his tenure with the Giants made him feel that way. He said "a couple" of things came to mind but only specifically mentioned playing time. Dubón was almost entirely utilized as a right-handed hitting platoon option against left-handed pitching during his time in the majors with the Giants and was also optioned to the minors multiple times throughout the 2021 season.
When a reporter pointed out that Dubón's performance could have been quite helpful to the Giants this season, he was quick to point out how grateful he was to be with the Astros now. Obviously, his response could be interpreted as pride in his current organization, but given his other comments, it could also be read as another slight against his former team.
"Thank God they don't," he said. "Thank God they don't. I'm good here. I'm good here. It's been a family, and I'm enjoying every moment." While there is obvious reason to avoid reading into postgame comments too much, it seemed noteworthy that Dubón seemed to imply finding a family with the Astros as something he did not have during his tenure with the Giants.
Dubón has gotten off to a hot start this season with the Astros, recording a 20-game hitting streak that ended over the weekend. With star second baseman José Altuve sidelined with an injury, the versatile Dubón has filled in as the team's everyday starter at the keystone. He's hitting .317/.340/.406 this season with seven doubles and a triple in 102 plate appearances.
The Giants acquired Dubón in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2019 MLB trade deadline. He finished the season strong, hitting .279/.312/.442 in 109 plate appearances while playing second base and shortstop. The following season, the Giants experimented with Dubón in center field, and he took to it surprisingly well.
Dubón appeared in 54 of the Giants' 60 games in 2020, splitting his time between the infield and outfield, and posted a league-average .274/.337/.389 line. However, that was the last point in his tenure with the team that he would receive consistent playing time.
The Giants relegated Dubón to the short side of a platoon in the 2021 season, limiting him to 187 plate appearances across 74 games. While he was exceptional in 63 games at Triple-A, posting an elite .908 OPS, he hit just .240/.278/.377 in his limited playing time in the majors. Out of minor-league options in 2022, Dubón was traded to the Astros for minor-league catcher Michael Papierski after a mediocre start to the season.
Papierski made his big-league debut with the Giants last summer but failed to record a hit in 10 plate appearances. He also struggled mightily at the plate with San Francisco's Triple-A affiliate and was soon designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. Papierski is now in the minors with the Detroit Tigers.
Former versatile SF Giants player Mauricio Dubón had his best performance of the season on Monday night against his former team. Whether or not the Giants regret parting with the Honduran native, Dubón made clear in his postgame comments that he is ecstatic to be with the Houston Astros.
