Who’s Next in Right Field for the San Francisco Giants?
To start the 2026 season, the San Francisco Giants will likely stick with Heliot Ramos in left field and Jung Hoo Lee in center field. However, right field remains in question. It is not for a lack of options. The Giants have several directions they can go before deciding who will start at the position on Opening Day.
Right field at Oracle Park is notoriously difficult to play. Opposing teams either rely on defensive specialists who embrace the challenge or send outfielders who struggle and make mistakes that often work in the Giants’ favor. It takes experience and expertise to manage the 24-foot high wall and the wide expanse of Triples Alley. In the past, the Giants had dependable defenders like Randy Winn, Hunter Pence, and Mike Yastrzemski who held down the position with consistency and pride. With Yastrzemski’s departure at last season’s trade deadline, the lack of a steady right fielder became an unfamiliar feeling for Giants fans.
Within the organization, the Giants have plenty of outfielders to consider. The first candidate is Drew Gilbert, one of the players who came to San Francisco from the New York Mets in exchange for veteran reliever Tyler Rogers. He made an immediate impression with his energy and solid defense, although he struggled in his first 100 major league at-bats, hitting .190 with three home runs and 13 runs batted in. Another option is Luis Matos. who has shown flashes of his talent over the past three years but has lacked consistency at the plate. He has spent time bouncing between Triple-A Sacramento and the major league roster, and the complication with Matos is that he no longer has minor league options, making him a frequent subject of trade speculation. A third internal candidate is Grant McCray, whose defensive value has earned him late-game appearances. However, like Gilbert and Matos, he has not yet adjusted to major league pitching, carrying a .185 batting average with five home runs and 12 runs batted in across 59 games over the last two seasons.
The Giants also have the option of exploring the free agent market to fill the role. Harrison Bader would provide strong defense and a veteran presence for the younger outfielders. Among the premier outfielders in the 2026 free agent class are Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker. Whether the Giants pursue an external signing depends on their level of confidence in their internal options and how aggressively they choose to invest if the right opportunity becomes available.
