Giants 2022/2023 Hot Stove League Depth Charts: Center Field

 Trying to get the depth chart series done before take a week-long break to visit family.  By the time I get back the World Series could be over and the Hot Stove fired up.  

Here's the thing about depth charts:  You can't have one player be the first stringer at more than one position.  If the season were to start today, the Giants would not have the luxury of platooning YtY and Slater in CF.  YtY would have to cover RF which leaves Slater as the starting CF.

Austin Slater- .264/.366/.408, 7 HR, 12 SB, 325 PA.  Most likely Slater will be in a platoon role by the end of the Hot Stove League season but going in he is first stringer.

Bryce Johnson- .111/158/.111, 19 PA.  Johnson's calling card is he can cover a lot of ground in CF.  He has hit for average with no power in the minors.  That may not play in MLB against pitchers who can pound him up in the zone and dare him to hit it.  No guarantee he's on the 40-roster by the start of the season.

Heliot Ramos- .100/.182/.100, 22 PA.  Same thing I said in the LF depth chart.  Ramos was no better than Johnson in extremely SSS MLB stints and wasn't nearly as good in AAA but undoubtedly has way more leash due to draft pedigree.

Minor Leaguers of Note:

A+  Vaun Brown- ditto LF analysis.  Brown has the tools to play CF and played all 3 OF positions last year.

A+  Luis Matos- .215/.280/.356, 12 HR, 11 SB, 415 PA.  In an ideal world, Matos is the CF of the future.  He had a tough season but was young for the level.  Got off to a hot start in the Arizona Fall League but has cooled off lately.  Maybe not quite a hot a prospect as this time last year but still reason for high hopes.

A+  Hunter Bishop- .233/.318/.404, 13 HR, 20 SB, 360 PA.  First round draft pick in 2019.  Showed some improvement this season but still missed time with injury and not the stat line you look for from a former first rounder who is now Rule 5 Draft Eligible.

A  Grant McCray- .289/.383/.514, 23 HR, 43 SB, 569 PA.  Breakout season for the 2019 third round draft pick.  Since he was a HS draftee, he has another year before Rule 5 eligible.  If he has another season like 2022, he'll be a no brainer to add to the 40 man next Hot Stove Season.

A  Alexander Suarez- .231/.296/.412, 12 HR, 13 SB, 346 PA.  Interesting prospect with some upside who has the tools to play CF and moved into that role after McCray's late season promotion.

What I think will happen in the Hot Stove League is the Giants will acquire at least one and possibly two big corner OF bats with Slater and YtY moving into a CF platoon.  Now we'll see if that plays out.