Chris Shaw Says Giants Can Bank On Power
SAN FRANCISCO—No research has been done on this subject, but it’s probably safe to suggest few first-round draft picks have had a similar offseason title to the one Chris Shaw owned in late 2016 and early 2017: facilities assistant.
The Giants’ top pick in 2015 described what that title meant in his job working for Dedham Savings in the Boston area:
“Whatever they ask of me,” said Shaw, a 23-year-old first baseman. “Change the water. Vacuum offices. Take the trash out. Mailroom. Whatever is needed.”
Shaw believes that last phrase applies to his approach on the field as well.
“I’m not necessarily a guy who wows you with tools, per se,” Shaw said. “I think I have good power, but other than that, I like to think of myself as a guy who just gets it done.”
That power certainly influenced the Giants to grab the Boston College product with the 31st overall selection in 2015.
Shaw, a lefthanded batter who is listed at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, spent last season at high Class A San Jose and Double-A Richmond. In a combined 132 games he hit .267/.335/.484 with 21 homers and 38 doubles.
Other than Barry Bonds, lefthanded power hitters haven’t exactly flourished at AT&T Park, but general manager Bobby Evans thinks Shaw could thrive there.
“There are a lot of different ways to evaluate a hitter in our ballpark, and some of that’s just being able to spray the ball around the field,” Evans said. “But in his case, I don’t think that there will be any issue with his power playing in our ballpark.”
Shaw struck out 125 times in 561 plate appearances last season, a rate that doesn’t seem to particularly bother Evans.
“With power guys, you’re always more lenient on the strikeouts,” Evans said, adding that the 22 percent rate is “not exorbitant.”
Shaw will likely begin the 2017 season at Richmond. If or when he makes it to the majors, he offered fans this snapshot of his personality:
“I’m very intense when I’m playing . . . I’m a fierce competitor,” Shaw said. “I take what I do very seriously.”
As a first baseman and as a facilities assistant.
GIANTICS
• The Giants signed utility infielder Gordon Beckham to a minor league deal in early February. He played three games for San Francisco at the end of last season.
• Lefthander Michael Roth, who signed with the Giants in November, received an invitation to big league camp.
— Steve Kroner is a San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter
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