Pleasanton native Stephen Piscotty will have a chance to remain in the Bay Area with a good showing in spring training.
The former A’s outfielder reportedly has signed a minor-league deal with the Giants and was among the 37 non-roster players who were invited to spring training Monday. Other notable names on the list include top prospect southpaw pitcher Kyle Harrison and Joe Ross, a right-handed pitcher from the Bay Area who also signed a minor-league deal recently.
Piscotty, who recently turned 32, has to be seen as a long-shot to make the big-league roster after his decline in production in recent years with Oakland. Robert Murray of FanSided reported his signing Monday morning.
Piscotty attended Amador Valley high school, the rival of Brandon Crawford’s Foothill high school in Pleasanton. The A’s acquired Piscotty from the St. Louis Cardinals via trade before the 2018 season, as he spent the final few months of his mother’s life by her side as she battled Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Piscotty and his father, Mike, have since founded the ALS Cure Project, which strives to find a cure for the devastating disease.
That season, Piscotty still managed to put up career-highs in home runs (27) and RBIs (88) with a .267/.331/.491 slash line in 151 games. The outfielder has had trouble staying on the field in the years since, posting a .229/.287/378 slash line with 28 dingers and 103 RBIs in just 252 games total.
Piscotty underwent surgery on his left wrist to cut short his 2021 season, while dealing with a litany of injuries last year. In 2022, he dealt with shoulder, COVID-19, calf and wrist issues while playing in just 42 games. He made 24 Triple-A appearances in the Cincinnati Reds organization after the A’s released him in late August before electing free agency.
Piscotty is limited offensively and an average right fielder with an average arm, and he joins a Giants team that already has a lot of options in the outfield. The team signed free agents Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto via free agency while bringing back Joc Pederson. Mike Yastrzesmski, Austin Slater and Luis Gonzalez remain in the mix, while the Giants are hoping prospect Heliot Ramos can break through to the big leagues this year.
Here’s a full list of the Giants’ non-roster invitees:
Pitchers (18)
· RHP Melvin Adón
· LHP Raymond Burgos
· RHP R.J. Dabovich
· RHP Sam Delaplane
· RHP Nick Duron
· RHP Jorge Guzman
· LHP Kyle Harrison
· RHP Trevor Hildenberger
· RHP Mauricio Llovera
· RHP Kade McClure
· LHP Erik Miller
· LHP Sean Newcomb
· RHP Ljay Newsome
· LHP Darien Núñez
· RHP Joe Ross
· RHP Drew Strotman
· LHP Daniel Tillo
· RHP Miguel Yajure
Two-Way Players (1)
· LHP Ronald Guzman (P/IF)
Catchers (6)
· Brett Auerbach
· Patrick Bailey
· Brett Cumberland
· Ricardo Genovés
· Roberto Perez
· Austin Wynns
Infielders (8)
· Armando Alvarez
· Tyler Fitzgerald
· Ford Proctor
· Casey Schmitt
· Donovan Walton
· Colton Welker
· Brady Whalen
· Will Wilson
Outfielders (4)
· Vaun Brown
· Clint Coulter
· Bryce Johnson
· Stephen Piscotty
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