The San Francisco Giants signed Jorge Soler in search of a power hitter, recently the former Marlins slugger has been producing much more consistently at the top of the lineup. In search of improving their offense, they made moves in their lineup to try to improve the team’s run production this offseason and Soler was the centerpiece of these acquisitions.
Although the Giants prefer to have the Cuban’s bat in a position to drive in runs, they have to be satisfied with what they are seeing with him as the leadoff hitter and this gives the team more flexibility. “I don’t know how to explain it,” Soler told NBC Sports Bay Area. “When I hit the leadoff, I’ve always hit it well. Every time I hit first, the numbers are always good.”
In 15 hitting games for San Francisco, Soler has a .702 OPS and five RBIs. In the other 67 games he has played hitting in other slots in the order, Soler’s numbers have dropped noticeably, aside from the RBI total. In other positions in the lineup he hits .224 average, .691 OPS and 28 RBI according to his statistics.
“In my opinion I am the leadoff hitter, the pitcher is going to attack me, he is going to throw more strikes,” Soler said. “This position in the lineup suits me better because I’m more patient, I see more pitches and try to make the pitcher work.”
“He embraces being a leadoff hitter, he loves doing that,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “The numbers also suggest here recently that he has been doing his best work there. He’s very comfortable in the spot, he relishes it, and it fits our lineup, especially at the top, we can mix and match a little more righties and lefties. “He is a dangerous hitter in the spot,” explained the team’s manager.