The influx of youngsters helped kick-start a mediocre Giants team that is now firing on all cylinders.
Before infielder Casey Schmitt made his debut with the club on May 9, the Giants were 15-19 and looking for a spark. Since then, San Francisco (26-25) is 11-6 and climbed above .500 for the first time all season after a 15-1 thump by the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday at American Family Field.
The Giants totaled 19 hits, nine of which came from rookies Schmitt (2), Patrick Bailey (4), Brett Wisely (2) and Bryce Johnson (1).
Bailey turned in the most impressive performance on Friday night, going 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs, but perhaps the most significant performance came from Wisely, who broke through with a 2-for-5 night as he cracked his second major league game. home run and collect three RBI.
The 24-year old infielder shone defensively this season, but struggled with the bat. His big night was the culmination of hard work behind the scenes.
“I got the heat. I had a pretty long at bat, spat on a good two-stroke curveball there,” said Wisely, breaking off his homer in the third inning with Laura Britt, Carlos Ramirez and Rich Aurilia on “Giants Postgame Live .” “Just find something up and put a good swing on it and the ball flew at me.”
“I feel good, I’ve been working in the cage a lot with (Giants hitting coach Justin Viele) to feel my swing pretty good. Just some good at bats together.”
Speaking to reporters after the game, Giants manager Gabe Kapler praised Wisely for his performance and explained why he establishes himself as a good hitter in the majors.
“I was especially happy with some big Wisely at bats there,” said Kapler. “Obviously the three-run home run, line drive double the opposite way, there’s plenty to be excited about.
“The batting speed is fully intact, even when it swings and misses, you can see the bat whistling through the zone. If you see it during batting practice, it’s a good, clean, short swing and it can take the ball to the opposing field hitting. As we’ve seen tonight he can lift it to the pull side. There’s a lot of tools to dream of he’s actually just a few at bats above Double-A, including his major league at bats, and so there’s a lot of ceiling in it for Brett Wisely and we want to see as much of him as possible.”
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Despite the continued success of two of the Giants’ top prospects on Friday night, Wisely, in the eyes of the Giants, stole the show.
And if he continues to have success at the plate, there could be a regular role for him for the rest of the season.
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