Giants' No. 10 prospect McCray makes case for 2025 with 2-homer game
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SAN DIEGO -- Rookie outfielder Grant McCray was McWow for the Giants as he hit two home runs with five RBIs as San Francisco conquered the Padres and their ace Dylan Cease, 6-3, on Saturday night to even the three-game series.
The speedy McCray, who also had two hits on Friday out of the No. 9 hole, is San Francisco¡¯s No. 10-ranked prospect, per Pipeline, and he proved his status with an eye-opening performance against San Diego.
¡°I¡¯m doing more than I could expect, honestly,¡¯¡¯ McCray said. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to come up and just put up amazing numbers. I¡¯m just trying to hold my own and go for a spot next season.¡¯¡¯
That was the Giants¡¯ timetable for McCray after he started the season in Double-A. But his arrival in the Majors was accelerated and now he can¡¯t keep his foot off the gas.
¡°To hit the ground running as hard as he has, to have a bad game and come back and to keep his wits about him,¡± said Giants manager Bob Melvin. ¡°For a young guy -- we never envisioned him being here this season, maybe next year.
¡°But it has been so impressive. You see the arm strength in the outfield, the ground that he covers. He gives us athleticism out there.¡¯¡¯
Cease wasn¡¯t as sharp as usual, and the Giants made him pay, especially in their three-run second inning. Patrick Bailey and Brett Wisely reached on singles to set the stage for McCray¡¯s two-out, three-run homer.
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His fourth big fly since making his Major League debut on Aug. 14 was a Statcast-projected 417-foot blast that exited the bat at 106.6 mph and landed deep into the right-field seats.
"He's had some really good at-bats against us,¡¯¡¯ Cease said. ¡°Obviously he's hit a couple home runs, took Mike [King] the other way a couple times [Friday]. He's looked good so far."
The Giants tacked on another run in the fourth, courtesy of McCray, when he hit into a double play.
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McCray¡¯s second blast, off southpaw reliever Yuki Matsui, flipped a one-run game and gave the Giants breathing room against the Padres¡¯ potent lineup. It came in the ninth inning, and like the left-handed hitter¡¯s first one, it was a two-out smash that pushed the Giants ahead 6-3.
¡°He has a history of hitting lefties in the Minor Leagues,¡¯¡¯ Melvin said. ¡°It¡¯s about putting the bat on the ball and finding a good pitch to hit. Obviously, he has a ton of power and it¡¯s just as impressive when he goes the other way.¡¯¡¯
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San Francisco had its own top-shelf starter in Logan Webb and the All-Star right-hander didn¡¯t disappoint. Webb (12-9) allowed three runs, 10 hits and two walks, with three strikeouts, over six innings.
¡°A very workmanlike performance,¡¯¡¯ Melvin said.
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McCray isn¡¯t done punching the clock as he builds his case for a 2025 roster spot. The key is staying loose and enjoying the ride.
¡°Trying to stay out of my head, just play and have fun,¡¯¡¯ McCray said. ¡°I¡¯m a young player and it¡¯s easy for it to get in your head and get you down. So I¡¯m just trying to keep it even-keeled, play the game hard, have fun and go out with a smile every day.¡±
Melvin is grinning, too. He¡¯s taken notice of McCray while knowing San Francisco has Jung Hoo Lee slated to play center field next season after signing a six-year, $113 million contract last offseason.
Lee¡¯s season ended in mid-May when he dislocated his shoulder when attempting to make a catch. His absence opened the door for the likes of McCray and it will force the organization to make some tough, but welcome, decisions next spring in Scottsdale.
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McCray is only the seventh Giant to have a multi-homer game before their 20th career game since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. He¡¯s hit five homers in his first 19 games.
¡°You can¡¯t help to look at it differently,¡¯¡¯ Melvin said. ¡°You can¡¯t help but to think about Jung coming back next year, what it will look like in our outfield.
¡°At this point [McCray] is really comfortable in center field, but it¡¯s a good decision to have once we come around to Spring Training. Because we like Jung out there, too.¡¯¡¯
Everyone rocking an SF logo is also liking McCray.
¡°I¡¯ve shown them that I can play,¡¯¡¯ he said. ¡°That I can go out there and play with the big boys. Hopefully that puts in a good word and the guys up top let me stay next year.¡¯¡¯