Giants Call-Up Top Prospect Christian Arroyo From Sacramento
by Russell Preston
SACRAMENTO (Sports 1140 KHTK) - After dealing with a wave of early-season injuries and an offense with little-to-no production, the San Francisco Giants have recalled 21-year-old infielder Christian Arroyo from the Sacramento River Cats. He will wear No. 22.
According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, a source close to the team said the Giants are finally bringing up their top position player in the farm system.
The former first round draft pick out of Hernando High School had spent the previous three seasons moving from low-A ball to double-A, solidifying himself as one of the best hitting prospects the Giants have to offer. In just 16 triple-A games with Sacramento this year, Arroyo is hitting an absurd .446 batting average (29 hits in 65 at-bats) with three home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.171 OPS.
With the Giants taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers, these moves are happening in an attempt to re-energize the lineup and break the four-game losing streak. Arroyo will be starting at third base and he will hit sixth in the lineup between Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik.
Drew Stubbs, a veteran outfielder who the Giants signed to a minor league deal this spring, will get another shot at the big league level after hitting a .258 batting average with two home runs, seven RBIs and a stolen base in just 10 games with the River Cats.
With Aaron Hill, Jarrett Parker and Denard Span out with injuries, as well as Chris Marrero producing no offense in left field, the Giants have had to resort to putting Brandon Belt in left field and moving Buster Posey to first base at times over the past weekend. Madison Bumgarner is on the short-term disabled list until they set a timetable for his return from his dirt biking injuries - meanwhile young pitching prospect Ty Blach, 26, will fill the starting pitcher spot.
The move will give the Giants even more depth, as Arroyo has experience playing third and second base as well as shortstop. Stubbs, 32, also has spent time at all three outfield positions over his eight-year MLB career.
