LaMonte

Wade Jr.

It’s an added bonus for Ramos that he’s being considered for leadoff duty following last year’s 22-homer breakthrough campaign. The 25-year-old former top prospect doesn’t fit the mold of a prototypical table-setter since he lacks elite on-base skills, but he’s always put up strong numbers against southpaws. It’ll likely be LaMonte Wade Jr. atop San Francisco’s lineup against right-handed pitching.

Wade Jr. didn’t factor into the scoring at all, but he did what a good table-setter does — get on base. Once again he batted out of the leadoff spot for the Giants on Thursday with Jung Hoo Lee hitting third, an arrangement that seems like it could continue into the regular season. Despite the fact that he’s hitless in five official at-bats on the spring, the 31-year-old is still sporting a strong .444 on-base percentage.

Wade Jr. allegedly spent the offseason doing lots of running to prepare for more of a role in the outfield. After playing 96 games in the outfield in 2021, Wade has played less and less out there and appeared in just 12 games last season. If he was able to move to the outfield in some starts, that could open up first base for Wilmer Flores and allow one of Jerar Encarnacion or Luis Matos to get more at-bats.

The 31-year-old was limited to just 400 plate appearances in 2024 due to injury. He slashed .260/.380/.381 with eight home runs and a career-high 15.5 percent walk rate. Wade Jr. has had his name mentioned in multiple trade rumors this off-season, and this news shouldn’t impact that in any way. He remains the likely starting first baseman for the Giants next season and could be a solid corner infield target in deeper formats if you’re not looking for top-notch power production. His platoon role will likely limit him to about 500 plate appearances which hurts his value in shallower leagues.

Wade Jr. drove in all four runs for the Giants on Wednesday as they fell to the D-Backs. He took Kevin Ginkel deep for a two-run shot in the seventh to break the shutout, then added two more runs on a single in the ninth before San Francisco’s comeback efforts fell short. The 30-year-old first baseman is hitting. 267/.398/.385 with six homers, 40 runs scored, and 27 RBI across 335 plate appearances.

With the Giants facing a left-handed pitcher, they will turn to a more right-handed starting lineup. Wisely and Wade Jr. are in pretty strict strong-side platoon roles, but Conforto has started occasionally against left-handed pitching, so this may also be a simple day off for the 31-year-old. In their places, Mark Canha will start at first base, Casey Schmitt will start at second base, and Jerar Encarnacion will start in left field.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said that Wade Jr. is battling some lingering “hamstring tightness” so the team will go with Wilmer Flores at first base. Melvin believes that Wade Jr. could be back against the Twins, but the team will simply manage his hamstring tightness before he gets four days off over the All-Star break.

As expected, the 30-year-old slugger will return to start at first base and bat second on Friday night against Landon Knack and the Dodgers. Prior to landing on the injured list in late May with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Wade had been hitting .333/.470/.426 with a pair of homers, 17 RBI and one stolen base through his first 166 plate appearances.

The veteran was placed on the IL at the end of May and will have missed about four weeks. Wade has a tremendous on-base percentage and will return to an everyday role against right-handed pitching. That will send David Villar back to the bench.

Wade, coming back from a hamstring strain, is expected to play for the River Cats again today before the Giants decided whether to activate him from the injured list.