The San Francisco Giants already had one third baseman make his Major League debut, and the team is well on its way to having another player receive a call-up to the big leagues.
29-year-old South Korean infielder Jae-Gyun Hwang is on his way up from AAA Sacramento, and Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said the team plans to start Hwang at third base against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Hwang will likely take the place of infielder Conor Gillaspie, who has struggled with a back injury this season and had lower back pain flare up this week. Though Bochy said the Giants will not announce a move until Wednesday, Gillaspie is likely headed for the disabled list while Hwang should be activated.
“It just flared up on him (Gillaspie) again,” Bochy said. “Lower back pain so he had a cortisone shot, or he’s getting one right now and it looks like he’s not going to be available right now. So I anticipate a move being made tomorrow. It’s gotten out there that Jae Hwang is coming up so this is probably the move that will be made, but not until tomorrow. There is no move made today.”
Hwang is leading the AAA Sacramento River Cats in home runs with seven, and runs batted in with 44, and carries a .287 batting average through the first three months of the year.
Hwang gave up an impressive career in Korea to pursue a Major League dream, and Bochy said Tuesday that he’ll be thrilled to welcome him to the big leagues when the time comes on Wednesday.
“One of the best parts of the game for a manager is walking up and shaking hands with a guy, or even hugging him when he’s reached his dream and that he worked hard for,” Bochy said. “There have been a couple this year already, but Jae Hwang worked hard, gave up a lot, like you said, to pursue this so I’ll be as happy as he is.”
Earlier this season, the Giants called up one of their top prospects, Christian Arroyo, to play third base, and this week, Ryder Jones made his Major League debut after Eduardo Nunez was placed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
Nunez will likely come off the disabled list on Friday, and Jones could be headed back to AAA to refine his approach at the plate after starting off his MLB career 0-for-10.
Though Hwang will likely make his debut at third base, he has experience playing first base and both corner outfield spots and Bochy said Tuesday the team would be comfortable bringing him off the bench.
“He’s played third, first, left field, we’ll use him off the bench. He’s probably going to play tomorrow at third