San Francisco Giants: 3 best DH options for shortened season

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 10: Hunter Pence #8 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the dugout prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park on April 10, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 26: Hunter Pence #8 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the second inning at AT&T Park on July 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

OF. DH. Hunter Pence. 1. player. 40. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

After a one-year stint with the Texas Rangers, Hunter Pence is back with the Giants. He signed a one-year deal with the team following his sound All-Star campaign last season.

Pence was projected to rotate between the corner outfield positions with playing time coming more out at left field. But now with the universal DH rule in place for this season, Pence could end up becoming the go-to player for this spot in the lineup.

He played the position last season for the Rangers, where 46 of his 83-total appearances for the team came as the designated hitter. And at the age of 37, his days as a regular in the outfield are numbered, especially when taking into account his negative UZR rate in three of his last four seasons. The four-time All-Star just does not possess the range and closing speed that once made him a fan favorite with the Giants.

Pence never made it look easy, but he wowed the crowd with circus catches that somehow became routine for him.

As with both Sandoval and Ruf, the Giants are not expecting a revitalizing season from Pence in the DH role. But if he can replicate last season’s 18 home runs and .377 wOBA rate from his Rangers stint, it can go a long way for a Giants team who struggled in runners in scoring position situations last year.

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