SF Giants: Third base job is David Villar's to lose

After a flurry of free-agent activity and one huge signing that fell through, the SF Giants are sticking with young David Villar at the hot corner.

In his rookie campaign with the SF Giants in 2022, David Villar showed off some impressive power. It appears that was enough to keep the third base job going into spring training. That, and the guy they signed to replace him fell through.

SF Giants third baseman David Villar. (2022) / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In his first media availability of the spring, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told reporters that Villar is the team's starting third baseman heading into camp. While poor performance could obviously change his outlook, the front office and coaching staff are not expecting their to be a competition at the hot corner.

Villar started 25 games at third base last season, along with nine each at first and designated hitter, plus four at second base. His batting average was just .231, but Villar showed a great deal of power and some decent plate discipline, hitting nine homers and six doubles in 156 at-bats. He finished with a line of .231/.331/.455, helped by six HBPs.

While Villar hasn't particularly been considered a prospect since the Giants drafted him in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB draft, he's done nothing but hit in the minor leagues. He tore through rookie ball and low-A ball his first year, becoming a MiLB organization All-Star, an honor he also received in 2021 at AA with Richmond, where he set a single-season franchise record with 20 home runs. 

Last year, he was the Pacific Coast League MVP for the Sacramento River Cats, joining such luminaries as 2014 PCL MVP Joc Pederson and Calvin Murray (1999). Villar hit 27 home runs in 84 games, along with 19 doubles, and put up a slash line of .275/.404/.617.

Originally the Giants' plan was to sign Carlos Correa and move Brandon Crawford to third, but the first in a series of failed physicals for Bay Area sports teams meant the team was left with Villar, especially after Arizona signed Evan Longoria. The free-agent options were pretty thin already, and there's a good chance Villar outproduces any of the options besides Brandon Drury. 

Last year, the Giants had to cobble together a third base solution when Longoria missed the beginning of the season after finger surgery, then missed a bunch of the remainder or the season with injuries to his oblique and hamstring. They used the arm-challenged Wilmer Flores, the defensive-challenged Jason Vosler, and a smattering of J.D. Davis instead.

If nothing else, Villar's average defense at third should be an upgrade. His weaknesses? Far too many strikeouts - he struck out once every 3.12 plate appearances last year. He also has always gotten hit by a lot of pitches at all levels, which helps his OBP but could be dangerous when it comes to injuries.

Zaidi also said the Giants will give Villar some reps at second base to give manager Gabe Kapler more flexibility. How will he field at second base? That's not clear, and that he's being considered there is more of an indictment of the team's lack of infield depth than anything else. Their starting second baseman, Thairo Estrada, is also the backup shortstop, which means their starting third baseman is their backup second baseman. That's...not ideal.

It also might be temporary. Casey Schmitt started last season at High-A ball and made it all the way to Sacramento by the end of the season. Schmitt is currently the third-best prospect in the Giants farm system. He might be the best defensive prospect in the organization, and while he will start 2023 in the minors, he could be at Oracle Park by the end of the season.

So David Villar is the starting third baseman. The SF Giants could do worse. And have.