Guardado Newsletter: Estrada seizing his opportunity

NEW YORK — Thairo Estrada has been waiting for an opportunity to show he can be an everyday player in the Majors for a long time. That moment has finally arrived, and he’s certainly making the most of it thus far.  

With fellow infielders Tommy La Stella and Evan Longoria on the injured list, Estrada has taken over as the Giants’ starting second baseman, emerging as one of the few regular position players on a team that relies heavily on platoons. He’s already demonstrating his all-around skill set, flashing his right-handed power, speed and smooth defense across the infield.   

“I’m very happy with the opportunity,” Estrada said in Spanish. “Obviously, I give 100 percent out there, whether I’m playing or not. I’m ready to contribute when my name is called.” 

The Giants initially acquired Estrada from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations on April 11, 2021, but the 26-year-old Venezuelan was limited to more of a utility role due to the depth of the roster. He impressed in his short stints with the club, though, batting .273/.333/.479 with seven home runs over 52 games in 2021. 

Even before the injury to La Stella, the Giants were looking forward to seeing more of Estrada, who was poised to take on an expanded role in 2022 following the free-agent departure of Donovan Solano. 

“I think we learned last year that he has a chance to be an All-Star-caliber player,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He’s physically gifted enough. Now he has some track record of success at the Major League level. He had an excellent spring for us. You could put him at all three defensive positions, and if you gave him a little bit of time, he’d be a plus defender at those positions. The sprint speed is high. We’re seeing the pull-side power. What’s happening is worth celebrating and good, but I think there’s another level of play in there for Thairo. I believe in him that much.” 

Estrada made sure he was well-positioned to seize his long-awaited opportunity, spending the offseason improving his diet and adding muscle to help him tap into more of his power this year. He’s homered twice over the Giants’ first 11 games, producing a game-tying shot in the bottom of the ninth inning on Opening Day and an impressive 380-foot blast out to left field at Progressive Field on Sunday.

“The last few years, I’ve worked a little bit more on my physique,” Estrada said. “I worked a lot with my personal trainer to eat better. It feels really good to get up every day and have the energy to compete. I feel great.” 

Estrada has played every inning at second base so far, but he’ll likely end up splitting some reps there with La Stella once the latter completes his rehab from offseason left Achilles surgery. Still, the Giants could be inclined to keep both of their bats in their lineup by starting La Stella at designated hitter, especially given Estrada’s superior defense at second. 

“Tommy La Stella is an excellent Major League bat,” Kapler said. “It doesn’t mean that reps will come at Estrada’s expense. These puzzles have a way of working together. We figure these things out. But Tommy is a badass, and we want Tommy back and ready to play as soon as possible. We want Estrada in the lineup as much as possible, so we’ll figure it out.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Tyler Rogers is coming off a life-changing week for him and his family. On April 11, Rogers faced off against his twin brother, Taylor, for the first time in the Majors. Things didn’t end up going his way — he was charged with the loss, while Taylor picked up the save in the Giants’ 4-2 loss to the Padres at Oracle Park — but he didn’t have much time to process the event. Shortly after pitching the seventh inning, Rogers headed to the airport to catch a red-eye flight to Evansville, Ind., where he and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their first child, a son named Jack Ryan Rogers, the next day. 

Rogers made it to the hospital around 6 a.m. on April 12, just in time to witness Jack’s birth at 8:53 a.m. The baby weighed in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and measured 22 inches long. 

“I haven’t even really had a chance to just sit down and think about it,” Rogers said after returning from paternity leave on Friday. “I was kind of looking at pictures on my phone today on the plane, of Monday with my brother. Up to that point, it was right up there with my wedding day for really cool days, and the very next day my first kid is born. I don’t even know how to put that into words to be honest with you. Just thankful and very blessed to witness all that go on at the same time.”

TRIVIA

Which former Giants player produced the only first-inning leadoff splash hit in club history? 

• A. Denard Span
• B. Hunter Pence
• C. Pablo Sandoval
• D. Brandon Belt

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Here are some recent Giants stories you might have missed over the last week: 

FARM REPORT

Here’s a roundup of notable performances by Giants prospects over the last week: 

• Left-hander Kyle Harrison continued his hot start to the season by striking out nine over five scoreless innings in High-A Eugene’s 1-0 win over Spokane on Friday night. Harrison, who is ranked the Giants’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has racked up 16 strikeouts over nine scoreless innings in his first two starts of the 2022 campaign.
• Third baseman David Villar is enjoying a power surge at Triple-A Sacramento, where he’s crushed five home runs over his first 11 games of the year. Villar, 25, is batting .244 with a .977 OPS and 16 RBIs over 41 at-bats for the River Cats. 
• Infielder Will Wilson (No. 21) blasted a walk-off grand slam to lift Double-A Richmond to a thrilling 6-2 win over Altoona on Sunday.

THIS WEEK IN GIANTS HISTORY

April 17, 2001: Barry Bonds became the 17th player, as well as the fourth Giant, to hit 500 home runs. He reached the lofty mark with a majestic splash hit, smoking a slider from reliever Terry Adams over the right-field wall for a two-run blast that lifted the Giants to a 3-2 win over the rival Dodgers. The celebration began a bit early in San Francisco, with the game stopping for nine minutes in the bottom of the eighth inning as Bonds posed for pictures with two longtime members of the 500-homer club: Willie McCovey and Willie Mays, his godfather.

TRIVIA ANSWER

A: Denard Span, who accomplished the feat against Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson on June 13, 2016.

FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW

To subscribe to Giants Beat, visit this page and mark “Giants Beat” from our newsletter list. Make sure you’re following the Giants or that they’re checked as your favorite team.