Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Zach Green’s major league debut came with the Giants, but he hopes a breakthrough will come with another club.
The third-base prospect, who spent 2019 mostly in Sacramento before getting his toes wet in San Francisco and then played his 2020 campaign at the alternate site, signed a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp with the Brewers on Thursday.
Before becoming a free agent, Green had been the Giants’ third-base depth behind Evan Longoria, who stayed healthy enough during the 60-game sprint that Green was never summoned.
This offseason the Giants signed Jason Vosler, who plays third and is a lefty hitter, which better complements Longoria than the righty Green.
Green, a 26-year-old from Jesuit High School in Sacramento, had been a highly touted third-round pick of the Phillies in 2012, but dealt with myriad injuries that sidetracked his climb. He signed with the Giants and their nearby Triple-A team before the 2019 season, then hit 25 home runs in 72 games at the level and got the call-up in July. It did not last though, and hip pain did, leading to a second hip surgery in September of that year.
He recovered in time to put on a show in this year’s spring training 1.0, in which he launched a few bombs, but did not get a second chance at the major league level. Perhaps that’ll come with Milwaukee.