2025 Depth Charts: Center Field

Who's ready to play?

Photo Credit: Mick Anders | Richmond Flying Squirrels

So far in this year’s Depth Charts series, we’ve looked at:

• Shortstop

• First Base

• LHP - Starters

I feel like I need to start today’s post with some frank words that were recently heard on There R Giants’ podcast from the always intelligent and insightful David B. Flemming:

If you have a big picture criticism of the Giants, the depth chart in center field and at shortstop is just woeful. You know, you just can't let it get to this point. When you look at the depth chart at those two positions, it's just not good enough.

This was in the context of our discussion of Grant McCray, who will come up again in today’s post, and whose development was unfairly rushed because, in the wake of the injury to the $100 million dollar man, Jung-Hoo Lee, this club did not have an answer of any kind. Luis Matos started 17 games in center field for the 2024 Giants. Tyler Fitzgerald started six. Heliot Ramos, whom the Giants haven’t seen as a true future center fielder since probably 2018, when his body really started to take on strength and muscle and weight, started an amazing 57 games in center field. The team had serious discussions with other clubs to try to add a simple defensive band aid, like Trent Grisham, at the deadline, but was naturally leery of giving up real future talent for so little present gain. And, in the end, McCray, who probably should have still been in Double-A working on his swing and his offensive approach, was forced into action for 35 starts down the stretch, showing flashes of his impressive gifts, but taking a hefty dose of humility along the way.

There’s no way around the stark reality that Flemming gave on that podcast appearance. It just wasn’t good enough. This team tried to compete in 2024 while playing without a true center fielder or shortstop on the 40-man for nearly the entire season.

They’ve now made a $182 million dollar investment at shoring up the shortstop position — and they certainly have reason to hope that Lee will live up to the sizable investment made in him a year ago. But the question for today is: has the depth improved? What is the plan of attack behind Lee, and, if they were to lose him again, would things be any better in 2025?

A weighty topic for the holiday season….it’s our 2025 look at the center field depth charts!

Before we cross the jump, ‘tis the season to give the Giants’ fan in your life a subscription to There R Giants, so they can keep up with all the news on the farm.