How Harrison Bader fits into SF Giants’ plans to fix outfield issues

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Harrison Bader was born in New York, raised to root for the Yankees and hasn’t come within a hundred miles of Half Dome in his nine years in the big leagues.

But the Gold Glove-winning center fielder is already getting a taste of his surroundings in San Francisco, where he signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants this winter.

“I’d play the same way if I was in Yosemite,” Bader told The California Post when asked about corralling the spacious, angled outfield at Oracle Park. “If anything, there’s more room to go make some plays. I’m excited. It’s gonna be a challenge, so I can’t wait.”

Even the most routine fly balls seemed to be a challenge for the Giants at times last season. By any metric, their outfielders ranked among the worst in the majors. 

Whether you look at Outs Above Average or Defensive Runs Saved, the Giants possessed the worst defenders at their positions in two of the three outfield spots.

“Ultimately my job is to understand what was happening last year and try to make or create a better spot to put our outfielders in,” said Shane Robinson, who was promoted from the Triple-A staff to serve as manager Tony Vitello’s first base coach and outfield coordinator.

“I think guys are on board with maybe some more aggressiveness and a little bit of tweaks when it comes to outfield positioning and jumps. Easy things to correct that, if we do, we should be in a better spot as a team.”

Will Brennan, another offseason addition to the outfield mix, described Bader as “a wizard” in center field. He brings more than his own defensive prowess — responsible for the fourth-most Defensive Runs Saved among all active outfielders.

With him roaming center, Jung Hoo Lee will slide over to right field, and Heliot Ramos won’t have to worry about so much ground in left.

The two metrics rated Ramos the worst left fielder and Lee the worst center fielder in MLB last season. The eye test, for the most part, backed up the numbers.

Bader sees it differently.

“I don’t think those guys really need help, man,” he said. “Honestly, I’ve been watching them. Listen, they move great, they’re instinctual, they have tools like crazy. They don’t need my help. I just think we need to focus on where we’re positioning.”

The Giants, under Bob Melvin last season, shifted their defenders at the lowest rate of all 30 clubs, according to Statcast data. Their outfield positioning was tied for the fourth-least effective in the majors, by Defensive Runs Saved.

“It’s hard to steal a base if you have a s—ty lead. It’s hard to catch a ball if you’re in a bad position,” Bader said. “I think if we just focus on that and why we were positioned the way we were last year and focus on proper positioning this year, I think it gives us a better chance of just making routine plays.”

Bader’s presence in center also frees up the corner outfielders to take more chances. Through a club interpreter, Lee said he thought Giants outfielders showed “a lack of aggressiveness.”

Ramos sought out Robinson and new bench coach Jayce Tingler this offseason looking to improve from last season. Vitello described him as “a man on a mission.”

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Communication was one issue Vitello diagnosed. “A lot of it is just them taking charge and responsibility for that part,” he said. Another was familiarity. It was Lee’s first full MLB season, the second for Ramos, and right field fixture Mike Yastrzemski was traded at the deadline.

It wasn’t such an issue that it prevented the Giants from asking Lee to shift positions. But it would seemingly not make it any easier for the new position group to jell when all three missed chunks of time in camp representing their countries at the World Baseball Classic.

There was never a doubt in Bader’s mind that he would compete for Team Israel, even while adapting to a new team.

“You get an opportunity to represent people and culture, something so much bigger than just baseball,” he said. “It’s my culture, my background. It’s part of me.”

Lee was able to get some reps in right field because Korea “has our own Harrison Bader,” he said. But he added that he would still like to get more experience at the position.

Still, after helping Korea advance out of the group stage for the first time since 2009, Lee didn’t view the outfielders’ side quests for their national teams as anything but a positive.

“I feel like there’s going to be a synergy effect,” he said.

With attention turning to Opening Day, now just more than a week away, Bader acknowledged, “I wasn’t expecting to feel so rushed when I came back.” He said he’s focused on “maximizing every day” for the remainder of camp.

He’s not too worked up about the Giants’ opponent March 25.

“They’re a very talented team. I have a lot of respect for a lot of guys over there,” Bader said of the Yankees. “But it’s a baseball game. I’ve played a million baseball games in my life. Prepare and attack accordingly. Go out there and have some fun. It should be a really special experience.”