SF Giants’ ‘aggressive, enthusiastic’ outfielder named Barney Nugent Award winner
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ismael Munguia, a Giants’ outfield prospect and 5 feet, 8 inches of energy, has opened more eyes than just manager Bob Melvin this spring.
On Thursday, the 25-year-old Nicaraguan was named the winner of the prestigious Barney Nugent Award. Voted on by his peers in the clubhouse, the honor is bestowed each spring on the player in his first major-league camp whose performance and dedication “best exemplifies the San Francisco Giants spirit.”
Homering for his first hit of the spring, Munguia made an instant impression that only grew from there. In 17 games entering Thursday, he had scored 13 runs and was batting .467/.500/.767 with a double, a triple, a pair of home runs and four stolen bases while playing all three outfield positions.
“He got a pretty big ovation in (the clubhouse),” Melvin said. “Originally I didn’t know how many at-bats he was going to get. He’s getting in there almost everyday now. He’s been well received here in camp and is earning all the reps he’s been getting.”
Asked to describe Munguia’s style of play, Melvin used the words “aggressive” and “enthusiastic.”
Farm director Kyle Haines said Munguia, “seems to find his way into the middle of things that are happening that are good. He’s got that natural ability to find himself right in the middle of rallies.” With Erwin Higueros interpreting from Spanish, Munguia attributed this quality to the energy he brings to the field, which was something highlighted by his teammates while being presented the award.
“I just play hard. That’s my style of play. I come to give my 100%. I play today. If there is a tomorrow, tomorrow is a new day and I’ll do the same thing, give my 100%,” Munguia said. “It means a lot to be recognized.”
The past three recipients of the award have been Casey Schmitt, Brett Auerbach and Heliot Ramos.
It was especially meaningful to Munguia, who around this time last year lost his younger brother Tonio in a motorcycle accident. He responded then in the same fashion he began this spring, homering in his first game back after the accident. Eventually, he reported to Double-A Richmond, where he spent the season.
While he should report to Triple-A Sacramento to start the season, it’s not out of the picture for him to potentially provide a midseason spark in San Francisco, Melvin said. There would have to be an opening in the Giants’ already left-handed-heavy outfield, and another left-handed hitting outfield prospect, Wade Meckler, is already on the 40-man roster.
“You go down and develop, that’s the message to everybody here. Force the issue. Performance is going to play,” Melvin said. “I think he’s way ahead of where we expected him to be at this point.”
Garrett released
Once thought to have a foothold in the battle to become the bullpen’s second lefty, Amir Garrett was released Thursday after a rough spring.
Garrett, 31, was brought into camp as a non-roster invitee with more than 300 games under his belt as a major-league reliever and a preexisting relationship with pitching coach Bryan Price, who managed him in Cincinnati. In six appearances, however, Garrett had a 12.79 ERA and had walked more batters (five) than he had struck out (three). Allowing three runs over 1⅔ innings in his last outing, he was also dinged with multiple pitch clock violations.
That leaves 23-year-old Juan Sánchez as the only lefty besides Taylor Rogers remaining in camp.
Notable
— With only two days of Cactus League play remaining, it’s unlikely LHP Blake Snell will get into a game before the Giants leave Arizona. Snell threw a 30-pitch bullpen Thursday afternoon that will determine his next steps. “We’re trying to take stock of where he is right now,” Melvin said.
— Melvin indicated that the 41 players left in camp will be the group that heads north for exhibitions against the A’s and Triple-A River Cats, joking, “they’re all gonna be there anyway.” The Giants made one other cut Thursday, reassigning right-hander Nick Avila to minor-league camp, but the other 16 needed to get down to 26, “maybe irons itself out more after the Bay Bridge series, or during it,” Melvin said.