Giants activate Canha, select veteran power forward from Triple-A originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – When the Giants signed Jerar Encarnación to a minor league deal earlier this summer, he was coming off an extremely productive run in the Mexican League. Encarnacion hit 19 homers in 26 games for Oaxaca, a stretch that president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi joked would look intriguing even if he did it in someone’s backyard.
Encarnacion continued hitting after the Giants assigned him to Triple-A, and now they’ll see if the hitting streak can continue and bolster a lineup that scored just three runs in two games against the Oakland A’s after the trade deadline passed. Encarnacion was summoned on Friday and the Giants also activated Mark Canha, which was acquired on Tuesday, and Sean Hjelle, who was on the mourning list. To clear three spots on the list, David Villar and Blake Sabol were chosen to Triple-A and Derek Hill was designated for assignment.
The Giants are hopeful that Encarnacion and Canha can change their lineup at a crucial time and envision them having similar roles. Canha can play corner outfield and first base against left-handed hitters and Encarnacion has a similar profile. The front office had him get reps at first base recently to prepare for the call-up.
The 26-year-old managed 77 hits for the Miami Marlins two years ago, but was eliminated 32 times. That’s always been the issue holding him back, but the Giants think he’s made good fits with their Triple-A coaching staff. In 33 games with the River Cats, Encarnacion hit .352 with 10 home runs and a 1.054 OPS. He struck out 35 times to 18 walks.
“Our hitting group did a great job with him,” Zaidi said on the Giants Talk Podcast this week. “He has tremendous raw power and energy to all areas. His approach has improved.”
The Giants are hopeful that power will be on display this weekend at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. They will send Blake Snell, Kyle Harrison and Robbie Ray to the mound to start an important road trip, but their rotation will need a lot more help from the lineup in the second half.
