Giants' Marco Luciano: Fails to make Opening Day roster
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The Giants optioned Luciano to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Luciano is transitioning from infielder to outfielder this spring and has gone just 2-for-19 at the plate, so it's not terribly surprising that he's headed to minor-league camp. The 23-year-old could still have a role with the Giants in 2025, but he will try to get more comfortable in the outfield at Sacramento and also attempt to rediscover the power that was lacking for him last season.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Impresses manager
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Luciano went 1-for-3 with a home run and a strikeout in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels.
"He's got power and he looks like there's more presence in the batter's box right now," said manager Bob Melvin of Luciano after the game. "More confidence, even in his batting practice, he's pulling the ball more and driving the ball." It was an impressive homer by Luciano, as he had the platoon advantage and hit it off the batter's eye in dead center. Luciano is in camp as an outfielder for the first time as the Giants look to reduce his defensive responsibilities in hopes of getting more offensive production out of him in his age-23 season.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Moving to outfield
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Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Luciano will be used as a corner outfielder this spring, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
It's not clear whether Luciano has been permanently moved from middle infield, but the Giants have been mulling a shift to the outfield for him for a while. Luciano admitted to being "totally lost" at the plate last season, when he managed just a .562 OPS and 34.6 percent strikeout rate in 27 games with the big club. The hope is that a move to a less taxing defensive position will help unlock his offensive potential. Luciano is likely to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Sacramento.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Could move to outfield
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Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey indicated Tuesday the club is considering moving Luciano to the outfield, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Luciano has played only shortstop and second base but has struggled mightily defensively at both spots. Additionally, Posey believes a move to a less taxing position could unlock Luciano's potential at the plate. The 23-year-old has slashed just .217/.286/.304 with no home runs and a 35.7 percent strikeout rate in his first 126 major-league plate appearances.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Dispatched to Sacramento
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The Giants optioned Luciano to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
After coming up from the minors in late July, Luciano went 4-for-21 with nine strikeouts over seven games. He'll now be sent back to Triple-A in order to make room for outfielder Grant McCray, but Luciano remains a top candidate to return to San Francisco should the Giants run into problems with infield depth.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: On bench again Wednesday
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Luciano is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After receiving a call-up from Triple-A Sacramento on July 30, Luciano made starts at designated hitter in five of the ensuing six games, but he went just 3-for-17 with eight strikeouts. His run as an everyday player may already be over, as Luciano is sitting for the third time in four games, including for the second time against a right-handed starting pitcher (Jake Irvin).
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Not in Tuesday's lineup
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Luciano is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Luciano has gone 3-for-17 with a double and eight strikeouts in five games since being called up by the Giants last week, and he'll sit Sunday for the second time in the past three contests. Mark Canha will bat fifth as the designated hitter Tuesday at Washington.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Taking seat Sunday
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Luciano is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Luciano made four straight starts after being called up by the Giants on Tuesday, but he'll head to the bench Sunday after going 3-for-13 with a double, two runs and seven strikeouts. Patrick Bailey will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Curt Casali receives a start behind the plate.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Expected to be promoted
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The Giants are expected to recall Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento prior to Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
San Francisco has an open spot on its active roster following Monday's trade with Atlanta and that spot will be filled by Luciano, who boasts a .413 on-base percentage with six home runs in July at Sacramento. The 22-year-old hit well with the Giants earlier this season, too, with a .986 OPS in 10 games, but his defense at shortstop was lacking. That position is now being filled by the red-hot Tyler Fitzgerald, but Luciano could receive regular reps at second base and/or designated hitter.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Activated and optioned
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The Giants activated Luciano (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Luciano has put his hamstring injury in the rearview mirror, but he will remain at Sacramento where he had been on a rehab assignment rather than return to the majors. Nick Ahmed (wrist) is also back from the IL and will take over as the Giants' starting shortstop.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Begins rehab assignment
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Luciano (hamstring) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Triple-A Sacramento's game versus Reno on Tuesday.
This game marked the beginning of Luciano's rehab assignment after he landed on the injured list May 31. The infielder played second base for Sacramento, with Nick Ahmed (wrist) also on a rehab assignment and occupying shortstop. Given the timeline of those two players rehabbing together, it's possible Luciano stays at Triple-A once healthy, as the Giants likely value Brett Wisely's versatility a bit more for the major-league roster.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Lands on injured list
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The Giants placed Luciano on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Luciano made an early exit from Wednesday's game against the Phillies because of hamstring problems, and he will now officially be sidelined until at least June 10. Casey Schmitt was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move and will presumably work in the short side of a platoon with Brett Wisely while Luciano is out.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Sharing shortstop with Wisely
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Luciano is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
After drawing five straight starts at shortstop from last Friday through Wednesday, Luciano appears to have moved into more of a timeshare at the position with Brett Wisely. Even with lefty Sean Manaea toeing the rubber for the Mets, the righty-hitting Luciano will give way to the lefty-hitting Wisely in the series finale.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Idle Saturday
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Luciano isn't in the Giants' lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.
Luciano has filled in as San Francisco's primary shortstop since Nick Ahmed went down with a wrist injury, but he will get a breather Saturday after going 3-for-4 during Friday's win in the series opener. Brett Wisely will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Luciano's absence.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Giants recalled Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.
Luciano has spent the entire season with Sacramento so far, slashing .266/.399/.344 with 20 RBI across 158 plate appearances. He'll come up from the minors to give San Francisco additional infield depth, taking the roster spot of Patrick Bailey (concussion).
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Heads to Triple-A
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The Giants optioned Luciano to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.
Luciano came into spring training as the favorite to win the Giants' shortstop job, but he missed some time with an injury and the club eventually signed Nick Ahmed, who ended up claiming the job. The 22-year-old could still eventually push to take over at shortstop with the big club this season, but for now, he'll go to Sacramento.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Falls behind Ahmed for starting job
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Luciano has slipped behind Nick Ahmed for the Giants' starting shortstop job, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Luciano has had a terrible spring, going 1-for-14 (.071) with nine strikeouts over six games. Ahmed, meanwhile, has gone 5-for-9 with two home runs across four spring contests. Luciano was viewed as the frontrunner for the shortstop job heading into spring training, but he's struggled in all aspects after battling a hamstring injury early in camp, and that has eroded his advantage. With both Luciano and Ahmed being right-handed hitters, there's little chance a platoon develops here.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Making Cactus debut Thursday
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Luciano (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and batting second for the Giants on Thursday against the Diamondbacks in his Cactus League debut, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Luciano has been slowed by a hamstring issue to this point in camp but is feeling well enough to give it a go Thursday. The 22-year-old is tracking toward everyday shortstop duties for the Giants this season, although he will need to hold off Casey Schmitt and non-roster invitee Nick Ahmed.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Scratched from lineup
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Luciano (hamstring) has been scratched from the Giants' lineup for Saturday's game versus the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Luciano has been dealing with what's been described as a minor hamstring problem. While the hope was that he could play Saturday following a workout Friday, the Giants have ultimately decided to exercise caution. It's not clear when Luciano might be able to suit up for Cactus League action, but it seems like a day-to-day situation at this juncture.
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Giants' Marco Luciano: Coming back from hamstring issue
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Luciano has been dealing with a minor hamstring issue but is tentatively listed in the Giants' lineup for Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's not clear how long Luciano's hamstring has been bothering him, but as long as he gets through a workout Friday with no issues he will be in Saturday's lineup. The youngster is projected to serve as the Giants' primary shortstop this season.
