SF Giants activate SS Brandon Crawford from IL, option INF David Villar
The SF Giants activated veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford from the injured list on Sunday, optioning struggling young infielder David Villar to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding roster move. Crawford was placed on the injured list with a right calf strain on May 1st but has remained with the team throughout his recovery. Villar was expected to be the Giants' primary third baseman coming into the season, but J.D. Davis' stellar performance alongside the emergence of recently-promoted prospect Casey Schmitt (Giants #3 prospect) has displaced him from the starting lineup.
SF Giants SS Brandon Crawford runs the bases after hitting a home run. (2023)
Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to landing on the injured list, Crawford was in the middle of a rough early-season slump at the plate. While he flashed impressive power, including the Giants' 99th splash hit in Oracle Park history, Crawford is only hitting .169/.244/.352 with 22 strikeouts in 78 plate appearances this season. Just as concerningly, Crawford has also been a shell of his usual self defensively, already committing four errors on fairly routine plays.
Villar was the best player in the Pacific Coast League last season, hitting .275/.404/.617 with 27 home runs in 84 games at Triple-A. With that exceptional performance, Villar received a pair of big-league callups. While his first stint in the bigs did not go well, he was a revelation in September. He finished his rookie MLB season with nine home runs in 52 games and a solid .231/.331/.455 triple-slash.
Coming off Villar's 2022 season, the Giants made clear that third base was his job to lose. Villar struggled in spring training, but got off to a hot early start to the season with an early two-homer game. However, that did not last long. In 100 plate appearances this year, Villar is hitting .148/.240/.318 with four home runs. Since April 7th, Villar has an even more abysmal .106/.189/.227 triple-slash with 25 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances.
While Villar's performance at the plate has been rough, Davis has taken a massive step forward defensively at the hot corner and is hitting .300/.368/.500 with a team-leading seven home runs. Villar is also capable of playing first and second base, but LaMonte Wade Jr. and Thairo Estrada have arguably been the two best hitters on the team so far this season as well.
The SF Giants will welcome Brandon Crawford back to the lineup on Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Hopefully he can bounce back from his rough start to the season. With Crawford back, David Villar will head to Triple-A Sacramento in hopes of getting back to his 2022 form.
