47 Hunter Pence RF

Pence signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday which includes an invitation to spring training.

Pence isn't ready to call it quits yet, though he was forced to settle for a minor-league deal after turning in a career-worst campaign in 2018 (.226/.258/.332 with four homers in 97 games). The veteran outfielder was more than 40 percent worse than a league average hitter last season (59 wRC+), so he seems unlikely to make an impact at the major-league level entering his age 35/36 season.

Pence went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs scored in Tuesday's extra-innings win over the Padres.

Pence delivered a solo blast in the fifth inning -- his fourth long ball of the season -- and also came around to score twice more after reaching on an error and a single. It's been a trying campaign for the 35-year-old, but he's finishing on a high note; over his last six games he's 9-for-23 (.391) with a pair of home runs and four RBI.

Pence is starting in right field and hitting leadoff Monday against the Padres, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Pence is hitting .357/.357/.643 with a homer and three RBI over the past four games (three starts), prompting manager Bruce Bochy to give him a turn atop the order with regular leadoff man Gregor Blanco on the bench. He'll face right-hander Bryan Mitchell in his first game leading off this season.

Pence went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Padres.

Pence took advantage of a rare start, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning before plating another on an RBI double in the fourth. It's been a hugely disappointing campaign for the 35-year-old, as he's slashing .215/.254/.315 with just three home runs and 22 RBI, and it remains unlikely that he will play every day over the final couple weeks.

Pence went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mariners.

Pence has found his way into the starting lineup in two of the Giants' last three contests due to the presence of the designated hitter on their current AL West road trip. The 35-year-old has responded well in both starts, going 4-for-9 with a double, a homer and three RBI. Manager Bruce Bochy generally starts players who homer in the club's following contest, so Pence could be in line for his third start in four games Wednesday. That said, the veteran's disappointing .228/.272/.307 slash line will result in a reserve outfielder role once the team resumes National League play Thursday.