SF Giants: Why Gabe Kapler thinks Mitch Haniger is close to bouncing back

SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler is confident outfielder Mitch Haniger's swing is in a good place because of one recent trend.

Mitch Haniger has had a rough start to his career with the SF Giants at the plate. Heading into play on Sunday, Haniger is hitting .225/.270/.370 on the season with eight doubles and four home runs in 148 plate appearances. However, Giants manager Gabe Kapler remains confident that the veteran outfielder is close to turning things around. Kapler was asked about Haniger's recent struggles during his postgame availability on Saturday, and he mentioned one recent trend that has caught his attention.

SF Giants OF Mitch Haniger (17) hits a single during a spring training game. (2023) / Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

"We've seen a lot of foul balls straight back, and generally, that's an indication that there's some timing issues going on, but not necessarily a swing issue," Kapler said in reference to Haniger. "A guy takes really good swings over and over, balls fouled straight back... I played with Manny Ramirez, and he used to talk about when he fouled balls straight back consistently he was just a tick off with his timing. Wasn't a swing/mechanics issue, but more a timing issue, and I think when Mitch's timing is right, he's gonna be fine."

The Giants narrowly avoided a no-hitter on Saturday thanks to a seventh-inning double by left fielder Mitch Haniger. It marked a rare offensive highlight from the Mountain View, California native, who has struggled to find a rhythm at the plate after suffering a Grade 1 oblique strain during spring training. Haniger himself pointed to timing as a primary focus of his right now, specifically "syncing the upper body with the lower body" in his load.

"Just working on things mechanically," Haniger said when asked about what he's doing to turn things around at the plate. "Work in the cage every day and try and get the load to be consistent. I feel like I'm making strides, so I'm just gonna keep putting the work in."

Haniger signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Giants this offseason after five productive seasons with the Seattle Mariners. Haniger was an All-Star in 2018 when he hit 26 home runs and finished 11th in AL MVP voting. He sat out the 2020 season after having multiple surgeries, then came back in 2021 and hit 39 homers.

The SF Giants still expect Haniger to be a consistent force in the middle of their lineup at some point this season. While his tenure with the team has gotten off to a slow start, manager Gabe Kapler believes Mitch Haniger's swing is ready to do consistent damage whenever he gets his timing back.