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The 2015 season was not kind to Hunter Pence and the San Francisco Giants. Pence spent considerable time on the DL with a sore wrist and oblique strain, and the Giants fell well short of defending their World Series title. If the Giants are to get back to their winning ways in 2016, Pence will have to be the centerpiece.
Between 2012 and 2014, Pence appeared in at least 160 games, including playing in all 162 games in 2013 and 2014. Last year, he only appeared in 52. In those games, Pence slashed .275/.327/.478 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs, 13 doubles and 30 runs. In 2014, Pence slashed .277/.332/.445 with 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, 29 doubles and 106 runs (a career-high).
If the Giants’ offense hopes to get back on track, they will need Pence to return to his 2014 form at the minimum. The face of Giants is Buster Posey, sure, but it’s Pence who will solidify the one-two punch the team needs.
With Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy and Matt Cain being joined by Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, the Giants could field their best ever starting rotation if everyone stays healthy and pitches to their talent. It is the offense that needs to step up for San Francisco to return to the postseason.
Last year, the Giants scored 696 runs, which was better than the 665 they scored in 2014. Those 696 runs were good enough for fifth in the NL. A healthy Pence might have meant a top-three finish.
As it stands, health is perhaps the Giants’ biggest concern going into 2016. If Pence can stay off the DL, San Francisco should be able to improve on its 696 runs, and put the team in a position to continue their recent even-year dominance.
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