SAN FRANCISCO — After trading away Matt Duffy to the Rays for starting pitcher Matt Moore last season, the Giants were left with limited options at third-base. This created a need this season for the Giants to call up one of their top prospects in Christian Arroyo. The former first round pick in 2013 was called up April 24, and took over for Eduardo Nuñez at third base as Nuñez was moved to play primarily left field.
After a promising start that included five hits over his first five games, Arroyo has hit a massive wall recently. He is hitless in his last 18 at-bats and is batting below the Mendoza line with just a .191 average. Arroyo has also struggled mightily with runners in scoring position, with just one hit in his last 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position and an overall average in those situations of .208. Arroyo’s shortcomings at the plate have caused the Giants to move him all the way down to the eighth spot in the batting order, and the possibility of sending Arroyo back down to the minors has been given some thought by manager Bruce Bochy.
Bochy admitted Friday before the team’s game at home against the Braves that the Giants situation at third may have caused Arroyo to be rushed through the farm system quicker than hoped for.
“I think it’s fair to say he was rushed up a little bit because of our situation,” Bochy said. “He hasn’t had a full year in Triple-A so in that respect he has been [rushed]. He’s too valuable for us right now This kid’s gone through some struggle here but for right now we’re going to stay behind him. For a young kid I think he’s dealt with this well.”
If the Giants did feel the need to send Arroyo down, they could move Nuñez back to third or use veteran Aaron Hill, who was just activated off of the 10-day DL.