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Giants Summon Top Prospect Eddys Leonard for MLB Debut
Giants Call Up Eddys Leonard: A New Face for San Francisco
The Big News: Roster Finally Full
The San Francisco Giants played Monday’s game against the Texas Rangers with only 25 players on their active roster — that’s one short of the usual 26. But before tonight’s game, they fixed that by calling up infielder Eddys Leonard from their AAA team in Sacramento.
Important Point: The Giants didn’t need to remove anyone from their 40-man roster to make room for Leonard. They had four open spots thanks to all the trades they made at the trade deadline.
Who Is Eddys Leonard?
Think of Leonard as a late-bloomer with a surprising power stroke. Here’s the quick version:
- Age: 25 years old
- Bats: Right-handed
- Original Team: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2017 (international signing period)
- New Team: Joined the Giants as a minor league free agent less than two weeks ago
- AAA Debut with Giants: 8 games, 4 hits — and all 4 were home runs! (Also drew 5 walks, struck out 7 times)
Before the Giants: A Hidden Gem in Milwaukee
Leonard wasn’t just some random pickup. He was crushing it for the Brewers’ AAA team this year:
| Stat | What It Means (Simple Version) |
|---|---|
| .287 Batting Average | Gets a hit almost 3 out of 10 times — solid! |
| .371 On-Base % | Reaches base a lot (walks + hits) |
| .502 Slugging % | Hits for power — lots of extra-base hits |
| 12 Home Runs in 69 Games | That’s a home run every ~6 games |
| 128 wRC+ | 28% better than average hitter (100 = average) |
| .215 ISO (Isolated Power) | Measures pure power — this is really good |
| 19.1% Strikeout Rate | Doesn’t strike out much for a power hitter |
Important Point: Leonard has a rare combo — power AND contact. Usually big home run hitters strike out a ton. He doesn’t.
Wait, Why Did the Brewers Let Him Go?
Great question. If he was that good, why was he available?
The "Out of Options" Problem
Here’s the weird part: Leonard has never played in the Major Leagues, but he’s already out of minor league options.
What are "options"?
Think of options like "free passes" to send a player up and down between the majors and minors without losing them. Most players get 3 option years.
What happened to Leonard?
- 2022: Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft (where other teams can steal unprotected players)
- The catch: He hadn’t even played AA ball yet — he was rushed onto the 40-man
- Result: His "option clock" started ticking early
- Fast forward: Traded to Brewers → Designated for assignment → Giants signed him
- Now: All 3 option years used up. Next time he’s sent down, he must clear waivers (any team can claim him)
Important Point: Teams hate carrying a player on the 40-man roster who can’t be sent down freely. That’s why Milwaukee let him go — they needed roster flexibility.
Why Did the Giants Need an Outfielder?
You might wonder: "Leonard is an infielder. Why call him up?"
The Outfield Crisis
After trading Heliot Ramos, the Giants have only THREE outfielders on the active roster:
- Jung Hoo Lee (starting center fielder)
- Drew Gilbert
- Grant McCray
That’s it. Zero backup outfielders.
The Infield Traffic Jam
Meanwhile, they have FIVE infielders (not counting Leonard) fighting for playing time:
- Willy Adames
- Christian Koss
- Nate Furman
- Osleivis Basabe
- Buddy Kennedy
Important Point: The Giants plan to play Leonard in the outfield — even though he’s only played infield for them in AAA. He has played corner outfield spots earlier this year, so it’s not totally new.
What About Jonah Cox?
Jonah Cox is the only other healthy outfielder on the 40-man roster. So why not call him up?
- Today is his birthday!
- He was just activated from the Injured List
- The Giants optioned him to Sacramento (AAA) instead
- Why? They want him to get regular at-bats and development time after a "rushed debut stint" earlier this year
Important Point: The Giants are prioritizing Cox’s long-term growth over a quick fix. Leonard is the "right now" solution.
Summary: What This Means for Tonight
| What Happened | Details |
|---|---|
| Roster spot filled | Leonard called up from AAA Sacramento |
| No 40-man move needed | 4 open spots from trade deadline |
| Leonard’s role | Likely outfield debut despite infield history |
| Why him? | Only viable option — power bat, positional flexibility, available |
| Cox stays down | Getting development time in AAA (happy birthday!) |
Bottom line: Leonard gets his long-awaited MLB debut tonight, and the Giants get a right-handed power bat who can cover the outfield gaps. Not bad for a guy who was a free agent two weeks ago!
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
What is the "Rule 5 Draft" you mentioned?
Simple version: Once a year, teams can pick players off other teams’ rosters if those players aren’t on the 40-man roster. The Dodgers put Leonard on their 40-man early to protect him from being stolen — but that started his option clock.
What does "designated for assignment" (DFA) mean?
Simple version: A team removes a player from the 40-man roster. They have 7 days to trade him, release him, or send him to the minors (if he clears waivers). The Brewers DFA’d Leonard, which let the Giants sign him as a free agent.
What is "wRC+" and why is 128 good?
Simple version: wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) measures total offensive value. 100 = league average. 128 = 28% better than average. So Leonard was a well-above-average hitter in AAA.
Can Leonard actually play outfield?
Yes! He played both corner outfield spots (left and right field) for the Brewers’ AAA team this year. The Giants just haven’t used him there yet in their system.
What happens if Leonard struggles?
Since he’s out of options, the Giants can’t just send him to AAA without risking losing him. They’d have to:
- Keep him on the 26-man roster
- Put him on the Injured List (if hurt)
- Designate him for assignment (and risk another team claiming him)
Enjoy the game tonight — and keep an eye on #NewNumber for his MLB debut!
