Going into the 2023 MLB season, the Giants have had some serious questions at the catcher position. With former top prospect Joey Bart struggling in 2022 and being around league average, the Giants were put into a position where they needed to act. And the decision they made is already paying off this spring.

*This article was written on 3/10/23, so the stats from spring training may have changed by the time this is released*

2022 Rule 5 Draft

After coming off a scorching hot 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, catcher Blake Sabol was a surefire bet for many experts to be placed on the 40-man roster. But, in a shocking twist, the Pirates elected to protect star catcher Endy Rodriguez, RHP Mike Burrows, RHP Colin Selby, and infielder Jared Triolo. Many people were incredibly shocked by this news, given the fact Sabol was one of the best all around hitters in the MiLB in 2022. Sabol hit a combined 19 homers between AA and AAA, 127 hits, 75 RBI, .860 OPS, wRC+ of above 120 at both levels, wOBAs above .360 between both levels, and a BB% of as high as 16.8%. With this news, the question wasn’t just will Blake Sabol be taken in the rule 5 draft, but instead, when will Blake Sabol be taken? Well, the answer to this question came on the night of December 7th, where Blake Sabol was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds. Many thought that Sabol was going to make a great backup option for Tyler Stephenson, but I don’t think anyone could’ve guessed what happened next.

Giants trade for Sabol

Shockingly, the Reds had different plans for Sabol following the rule 5 draft. After the draft, Sabol was immediately flipped to the San Francisco Giants for a PTBNL and cash considerations, which was really shocking. Sabol immediately embraced the move to San Francisco via social media, and he knew it would lead to a big chance with the Giants. The Giants very obviously had plans in store for Sabol, because this trade meant he had to stay on the MLB roster. With Joey Bart being lackluster in 2022, this move gave Sabol an immediate chance to stand in and make a difference for the Giants this upcoming season. This move also gives the Giants a lot of versatility, because Sabol can also play the outfield. This also works out perfectly for San Francisco, because their 2022 outfield was also lackluster.

2023 Spring Training: A Place to Shine

Due to Sabol having to stay on the Giants MLB roster, Sabol immediately had a chance to shine and show he was worth the pickup. And through almost all of Spring Training so far (as of 3/10/23), Sabol has done nothing but hit. So far, Sabol has had 14 abs, which granted isn’t much, but he’s hit 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and had a slash line of .429/.529/1.600. These numbers are absolutely incredible, and are currently helping Sabol to compete for the starting catcher job. This is far beyond what the Giants could’ve ever asked for, and is amazing for Sabol. Even without the rule 5 draft rules in effect, there is no doubt that Sabol would make the MLB roster to start the season. Now, it comes down to who the Giants will name as their starting catcher for 2023.

Conclusion/Regular Season Outlook

In conclusion, Blake Sabol has gone from missed rule 5 roster protection, to a 2023 key piece for the San Francisco Giants. The race for starting catcher is very close right now, as Joey Bart is playing just below Sabol, but Sabol still holds a slight edge on the former first rounder. Regardless of if he is named the starter or not, Blake Sabol has proven himself to become a key piece for the 2023 San Francisco Giants at catcher and the outfield. Time will tell to see how Sabol continues to prove himself, but right now Sabol looks like a surefire candidate for one of the Giants key pieces for the 2023 MLB season.