Slater reprising role as Giants left-handed hitman after long concussion originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – If there’s one thing Austin Slater did really well, it was left-handed pitching.
The oldest Giant was never an everyday player, but his success against lefties earned him a league-wide reputation, even among all-time greats like Clayton Kershaw.
However, Slater’s 2024 MLB season is off to a terrible start. He hit .103 in April before going on the concussion injured list in early May. He was sidelined for over three weeks with lingering symptoms before finally being activated on June 3.
“I just had a constant headache and fogginess,” Slater shared after the game. “I would also get dizzy from the cardiovascular activity. It’s definitely one of the longest rehabs I’ve had for a concussion. It’s not the first, but this was definitely the worst in terms of symptoms afterward. I was just trying to get back on track. base where I felt good enough to do daily things.”
After delivering the walk-off hit in the 10th inning of Monday’s victory over the Houston Astros, Slater hit lead off Wednesday against Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez and received three hits in Giants’ 5-3 victory at Oracle Park.
Slater now has six hits in 11 at-bats in four games since being activated. After sticking with him early in the season, Giants coach Bob Melvin continues to reap the rewards of his faith in the 31-year-old.
“What is he, over .350 percent on base now? That’s what he does, at the top of the order against lefties,” Melvin said after the game. “Just him settling in, getting consistent at-bats and doing his job at the top of the order.”
Slater said after Monday’s game that the consistent hits he received while rehabbing at Triple-A Sacramento helped him get into a rhythm at the plate. Now reprising his role as a primarily matchup-based player, Slater is confident he doesn’t need to play every day to continue his success at the plate.
“It’s something I’ve learned to do over the years, follow my daily routine, try to do as much as possible. [velocity] machine as much as I can,” explained Slater. “And a lot of that comes down to confidence that I don’t need everyday at-bats to be successful.
“I think that goes a long way. A lot of guys fall into the trap of ‘Man, I need to get into rhythm on base,’ instead of focusing on what your approach is versus that pitcher and whatever the situation is.”
Historically, Slater has made the most of his rare opportunities, and if he continues to do so, the Giants’ lineup will benefit greatly.
