Steven Duggar Called Up, Batting Leadoff

On Sunday, the San Francisco Giants traded CF Austin Jackson, a free agent signing from this past offseason, and reliever Cory Gearrin to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations and a player to be named later. More on the trade here.

This trade may be a precursor to a bigger move for the Giants, as it frees up salary for a impact acquisition. More pertinent to Clemson fans is that it opens a spot for Clemson alumnus Steven Duggar in the San Francisco outfield.

In 2015, Duggar’s final season at Clemson, he hit .304 with an .864 OPS, 5 HR, 10 SB, and a sky-high 18.5% walk rate in 227 ABs. Prior to his call-up from AAA on Sunday, he was hitting .272 with a .773 OPS, 4 HR, and 11 SB in 316 ABs.

Duggar is not expected to hit for significant home run power in the majors, which is no surprise given he had 8 career home runs in college. While he is fleet of foot in the outfield, his stolen base percentage has been rather pedestrian in the minors and he doesn’t profile as a major stolen base threat either. What makes Duggar so attractive for Giants, and the reason he is the #3 prospect in their system, is that he has a rightfielder’s arm (he played there at Clemson and in Single-A) in centerfield, has a patient approach, and is a great doubles hitter.

Duggar showed an advanced approach in posting an 11% walk rate (39 BBs) while swatting 27 doubles in AAA this year. Only Brandon Barnes (CF, Rockies) had more doubles in AAA at the time of Duggar’s call-up (28).

Steven Duggar is batting leadoff for the Giants in their 4:05pm (EST) Sunday game against SP Jack Flaherty and the St. Louis Cardinals.

UPDATE: Duggar went 2-6 with a run scored in a 13-8 Giants victory during his first game.