Christian Arroyo Turns Heads In Giants Camp
SAN FRANCISCO—Near the end of spring training, before the Giants took on the Athletics in the second game of the annual Bay Bridge series, Giants manager Bruce Bochy was asked about the progress of shortstop Christian Arroyo.
The 2013 first-round pick spent this spring and last in big league camp as a non-roster invitee. Clearly, he made an impression, so much so that the Giants called him up on Monday.
“He’s at the stage where if we need help, (then) we have confidence” to call on him, Bochy said. “. . . I wouldn’t be afraid to put the kid anywhere: second, short or third.
“He’s going to give you a good at-bat up here, and I can tell you: When he does come up here, he’s not going to be in awe of anything. There’s no fear in this guy.”
Arroyo appreciated the guidance he received from Giants players and staff.
“Everyone here is here to help,” said Arroyo, 21. “Everyone’s here to make you a better player because they all see you as . . . being a potential teammate and helping them win.”
The Giants selected Arroyo 25th overall in 2013 from Hernando High in Brooksville, Fla. He played mainly shortstop in his first three pro seasons.
The Giants, though, have Gold Glover at the position in Brandon Crawford, which played a role in Arroyo adding versatility last season at Double-A Richmond. He played 48 games at short, 48 at third base and 19 at second base.
“They’re all fun,” Arroyo said. “It gives you a different look on the game.”
In his first 12 games this season at Triple-A Sacramento, Arroyo played seven at short, three at second and two at third—and he had a hit in all 12 games.
Arroyo entered the season with a .294 career average. He is more of a gap-to-gap hitter (36 doubles last year) than a home-run threat (three homers in 2016).
Sacramento righthander Tyler Beede, the 2014 first-round pick, has been a teammate of Arroyo’s throughout the organization.
“(He is) going all out to make great plays, to be a great teammate and to be a great hitter,” Beede said. “He’s a kid who’s going to be determined to be the best at his position and one of the best in the game.”
GIANTICS
• Catcher Aramis Garcia hit four home runs in his first 10 games at high Class A San Jose. That’s twice as many as he hit in 47 games last year.
• Richmond outfielder Steven Duggar began the season on the disabled list with a flexor strain in his forearm.
— Steve Kroner is a sportswriter with the San Francisco Chronicle
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