Shay Whitcomb earns third straight Giants start at second base
San Francisco Giants infielder Shay Whitcomb will start at second base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, marking his third consecutive start since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday amid a wider roster shuffle that gave him his first big-league chance with the club. The lineup shift keeps the 27-year-old in the everyday nine even after he went 0-for-7 with two strikeouts while playing third base in his first two big-league games with San Francisco.
Key Takeaways
- Shay Whitcomb is set for his third straight Giants start Wednesday, moving from third base to second against Cincinnati.
- He was recalled Monday from Triple-A Sacramento in a wider roster shuffle that included five call-ups.
- Manager Tony Bytello praised Whitcomb's efficient swing and versatility at multiple positions.
- Left-handed hitter Nate Furman sits with Reds southpaw Nick Lodolo on the mound.
- Whitcomb's first Giants opportunity follows a waiver claim from the Houston Astros earlier in August.
Why Is Shay Whitcomb Starting Again for the Giants?
Whitcomb will stick in the starting lineup for a third game in a row following his promotion from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, CBS Sports reported on Aug. 26. After covering third base in the first two contests of the series against Cincinnati, he shifts to the keystone Wednesday.
The decision signals the Giants want extended looks at a player they claimed off waivers from the Astros earlier this month. NBC Sports noted it is Whitcomb's first opportunity with San Francisco after that move, despite flashing an interesting power-and-speed skill set in the upper minors in recent seasons.
How Has Whitcomb Performed Since the Call-Up?
Through his first two starts, Whitcomb is hitless in seven at-bats with two strikeouts while manning third base. Manager Tony Bytello still inserted him into the starting lineup when San Francisco announced a large-scale player movement ahead of its home series against the Reds at Oracle Park.
Before the recall, Whitcomb hit .258 (8-for-31) across eight games with Triple-A Sacramento since joining the organization, according to Maeil Business Newspaper. Bytello said coaches who worked with Whitcomb in the minors gave strong reviews, highlighting what he called an efficient swing with little wasted movement.
What Role Could Whitcomb Play Down the Stretch?
Bytello has already used Whitcomb at third base and now second, and he told reporters the 27-year-old can also play shortstop and left field. That flexibility matters for a Giants club navigating injuries to Willy Adames (left elbow), Victor Verricoto (right knee), and JT Brubaker (rib), among other roster moves that included five August call-ups.
Whitcomb, whose mother is Korean and who represented South Korea at the World Baseball Classic in March, was assigned a clubhouse locker next to Lee Jung-hoo after arriving in San Francisco. With the Giants at 52-78 and 32 games remaining, Bytello said he wants players to earn longer big-league auditions as the club develops talent for future close games.
Who Sits With Lodolo on the Mound?
Left-handed-hitting Nate Furman heads to the bench Wednesday while Cincinnati sends southpaw Nick Lodolo to the mound. The platoon-style decision keeps Whitcomb in the lineup against a lefty starter, even as San Francisco evaluates multiple newcomers in a busy week on the Celebrity Breaking News radar.
Furman was among five players San Francisco recalled alongside Whitcomb, Grant McCray, Anthony Molina, and Ryan Walker, per Maeil Business Newspaper. The shuffle also sent Matt Wilkinson to Triple-A and placed Bryce Eldridge on funeral leave, underscoring how much roster turnover preceded Whitcomb's third straight start.