SF Giants recall OF Cal Stevenson, place SS Brandon Crawford on IL
The SF Giants made a pair of roster moves on Monday before the start of the team's three-game series against the Houston Astros. The first was expected, with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski landing on the injured list with a left hamstring strain and versatile Brett Wisely (Giants #22 prospect) taking his spot on the active roster. However, the team also placed veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain and recalled outfielder Cal Stevenson from Triple-A Sacramento.
Oakland Athletics center fielder Cal Stevenson hits a double against the Seattle Mariners. (2022)
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants acquired Stevenson in a minor trade with the Oakland Athletics last month, which resulted in southpaw Sam Long heading back to the A's. Stevenson was a 10th-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2018 and has steadily climbed the minor-league ranks before making his big-league debut with the A's last season. In his first MLB stint, Stevenson struggled mightily in 71 plate appearances, hitting .167/.261/.217 with 23 strikeouts and eight walks.
A 26-year-old, Stevenson's scouting report will sound familiar to fans who have followed Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi's moves at the fringes of the 40-man roster during his tenure. Stevenson has shown an excellent approach throughout his minor-league career, walking more than he's struck out. He has above-average speed and is capable of handling all three outfield positions.
The biggest question facing Stevenson is his limited power. Even with his approach, Stevenson has struggled to impact the ball. Over his Triple-A career, Stevenson has hit .288/.392/.415 with 52 walks and 66 strikeouts in 356 plate appearances. Since joining the Giants organization, Stevenson has hit .263/.300/.421 in 20 plate appearances at Triple-A.
It's worth noting that Stevenson, a left-handed hitter, has showcased extreme platoon splits at times in the minor leagues. Last season, between Triple-A and his stint in the majors, Stevenson posted an abysmal .167/.256/.218 line against southpaws while striking out in more than 25% of his plate appearances. Against righties, on the other hand, he hit .293/.400/.427 with an 18.8% strikeout rate and a 15.0% walk rate.
Crawford has had a tumultuous start to the season. While he has flashed impressive power, including a controversial splash hit, Crawford is only hitting .169/.244/.352 with 22 strikeouts in 78 plate appearances. He also has committed four errors. He will be eligible to return from the injured list on May 10th.
