Triple-A Time Benefits Steven Duggar

BEST PLAYER

Counterintuitive though it might be, the fact that outfielder Steven Duggar had not made it to the Giants’ big league roster through June bodes well for San Francisco—and for Duggar.

Some speculated in spring training that the 2015 sixth-round pick from Clemson might get a shot to begin the season with the big club, even though he had played a mere 13 games above Double-A Richmond.

The Giants chose to give Duggar more time with Triple-A Sacramento, and the 24-year-old lefthanded batter hit .277/.358/.427 with 11 stolen bases through 74 games.

“He shows good plate discipline,” general manager Bobby Evans said. “He plays an outstanding center field . . . (He’s been) able to hold his own in the leadoff spot.”

However, the level of productivity by Gorkys Hernandez as the Giants’ primary center fielder and leadoff man enabled the Giants to allow Duggar to establish himself with Sacramento—and that experience should prove beneficial.

BIGGEST LEAP FORWARD

Evans termed 6-foot-5 righthander Jason Bahr “a guy we’ve all taken note of.”

It would be hard to overlook what Bahr did with low Class A Augusta through his first 13 starts. He recorded a 2.75 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 21 walks in 68.2 innings. He even had back-to-back May outings in which he worked six innings, struck out 11 and walked one. That earned him a bump to high Class A San Jose.

The 2017 fifth-round pick from Central Florida works off a fastball that sits in the low 90s and he mixes in a slider and changeup.

“He’s been consistent. His fastball command has been particularly strong,” Evans said.

Bahr’s rise is even more impressive when you realize he had made only one pitching appearance at Central Florida until Greg Lovelady took over the program after the 2016 season and gave Bahr a prominent role in 2017.

GIANTICS

** Evans made a point of praising 21-year-old San Jose second baseman Jalen Miller. The 2015 third-round pick hit .290/.328/.458 with nine homers through 74 games. Last season with San Jose, he hit .227 with six homers.

** The Giants are looking for Double-A Richmond catcher Aramis Garcia to rebound as a hitter in the second half. Through June 27, he was batting .220 and had struck out 53 times in 200 at-bats. “He has improved behind the plate,” Evans said, “but I think he’s capable of much more offensively.”