Many teams in the majors have been caught off guard this season by the San Francisco Giants. Few pundits believed the Giants would be strong competitors in 2025 after they finished the 2024 season with an 80-82 record. But with a 39-28 record, tied with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, they have co-joined first place in the NL West, thanks to disciplined performance, sparkling offseason decisions, and generally good health.
Strong Offseason, With Good Baseball Play
San Francisco’s ambitious offseason, which included the acquisition of reliable shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander, has been largely responsible for the team’s early success. The new roster has embraced manager Bob Melvin’s straightforward style, playing error-free, clean baseball and winning close games. Up until now, their durability has been a crucial component of their comeback.
The Giants were dealt a double blow this week when two key players, third baseman Matt Chapman and catcher Patrick Bailey, landed on the injured list. Chapman, who had been a cornerstone on defense and a timely bat in the middle of the lineup, suffered a sprained right hand during a win over Atlanta. Just days later, Bailey was sidelined with a strained neck, thinning an already vulnerable catching unit.
Giants put Patrick Bailey on the IL with a neck strain, Logan Porter is up from Triple-A. They’ve been remarkably healthy all season but now have lost Chapman and Bailey back to back.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) June 11, 2025
With Bailey out, the Giants turned to Triple-A Sacramento for reinforcements, calling up catcher Logan Porter. The 29-year-old journeyman, who last played in the majors with the Kansas City Royals in 2023, brings familiarity with the pitching staff after spending spring training with the club. While not a household name, Porter offers steady defense behind the plate and an eagerness to prove himself in what may be his last shot at big league relevance.
Big Series vs. the Dodgers in Fierce NL West
The timing of these injuries couldn’t be worse, with the Giants preparing to face their division rivals, the Dodgers, in a pivotal weekend series. The stakes are high, and the absence of Chapman and Bailey will test the depth of San Francisco’s roster. Fortunately, Melvin and the Giants’ front office have preached a “next man up” mentality all year, and now, that mindset will be put to the test.
Porter is anticipated to collaborate with Hayden Birdsong, the Giants’ outstanding player who has shown promise in the rotation. Their Cactus League experience may be essential to preserving pitching reliability while Bailey is out.
To free up roster space, San Francisco also DFA’d infielder Osleivis Basabe, indicating other potential movements should the injury bug continue. The Giants will depend on players like Porter to maintain the momentum as they try to stay competitive in the intense NL West.
This stretch will reveal just how deep and determined this Giants team really is.