SF Giants’ Season on the Brink, but Young Talent Offers Hope

When you're fighting an uphill battle—as the San Francisco Giants have been virtually all season—you simply cannot afford to blow four-run leads in the 8th inning. The Giants led 5-1 in the 8th in Game 1 of their series against the Mariners, yet they still lost, setting up a series loss that may be the nail in the coffin for the SF Giants in 2024. They're five back with 30 to play, but a tie against the Braves (who currently hold the third wild card spot) would do them no good after the Giants lost 3/4 at home vs. Atlanta earlier this month). So, looking ahead and looking back, 2024 was largely about a couple of key breakouts. Specifically, Heliot Ramos and Tyler Fitzgerald burst onto the scene and appear to have established themselves as lineup mainstays in 2025 and beyond. This is a very welcome and positive development, as the SF Giants have had way too much trouble developing position player talent over the last decade-plus. Grant McCray is another player to watch over the season's final month. He had a nice series in Seattle, demonstrating plus defense, a great arm, and easy power. He's struck out way too much (39.5% of the time) but he's also exhibited tantalizing tools. The Giants signed Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year deal in the offseason, only to lose him to a season-ending shoulder injury, but he will be back next year. With Ramos and possibly McCray looking like mainstays, that could lead to Mike Yastrzemski, who just turned 34, being non-tendered in the offseason. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald may be the Giants' long-term answer at shortstop. As disappointing as the 2024 season has been for the San Francisco Giants, it certainly hasn't been without its meaningful bright spots that could pave the way to a brighter future. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOSFGiants?sid=YouTube Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnMLB The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Liquid IV No more thirsty summers when you indulge in hydration with Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LIQUIDIV.COM and use code MLB at checkout. SupplyHouse SupplyHouse.com is the reliable way to get parts fast. Shop for your next plumbing, h-vac, or electrical job and get fast shipping from coast to coast. PrizePicks Go to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONMLB and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100! eBay Motors From brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com . Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Now through September 22nd, ALL FanDuel customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get a THREE WEEK free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON t o get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER : 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.