The SF Giants may have been disappointed with the final score in a 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners, but rookie catcher Blake Sabol had an impressive day at the plate. Sabol finished the game 2-4 with two home runs and five RBI. It was Sabol's first multi-homer game in the major leagues and perhaps all-time legend Barry Bonds had something to do with it.
"I actually got my first type of hitting lesson with Barry today," Sabol told reporters after the game. "Maybe he knows a thing or two about hitting some homers, but I don't know."
Sabol's memorable night raised his triple-slash on the season to .255/.317/.445 with 10 home runs. He became the first Giants rookie to hit double-digit home runs in a season since Mike Yastrzemski in 2019. At 25, he's the youngest rookie to hit at least 10 home runs in a season since Matt Duffy hit 12 home runs as a rookie back in 2015. He credited Bonds for helping him make an adjustment that he's been focusing on with the team's hitting coaches.
"He was just watching me hit, and he kind of pulled up a chair and was talking about me diving in towards the plate a little bit, which is something that Peety and JV have brought up to my attention," Sabol said. "He had the BP thrower move over to the side a little bit and had me stand up with my posture. It kind of freed up my body a little bit. From there, he was just like 'You're so good with your hands, just throw your hands at the ball. Wherever the ball is throw your hands. You don't have to go get it with your body. Your body will be where it needs to be.'"
Sabol specifically pointed to his ninth-inning home run against Mariners closer Paul Sewald as one that might not have happened if not for the help from the Home Run King.
"That last at-bat against Sewald, he threw some nasty sliders at the bottom. I feel like if I was diving after those, I might take a swing at one of those and the game's over."
Sabol is not the first Giants hitter to have a memorable night after a pregame chat with the all-time MLB home run record holder. In fact, Joc Pederson hit three home runs in a game last season after talking about hitting with Bonds.
"After the game, Joc was joking with me, 'Wow, one hitting lesson with Barry and two homers, huh? You know last year, I had a hitting lesson with Barry and I had three homers.' Well, maybe I'll get there one day."
Despite his impressive day at the plate, Sabol was not fully satisfied with his performance on Monday night. Filling in at catcher for Patrick Bailey, Sabol struggled to block the plate throughout the game. While he was only charged with one passed ball, Giants pitchers were charged with two wild pitches.
"I think I can get a lot better defensively. I feel like my last couple of outings behind the plate, I'd been doing pretty well. So tonight felt a little uncharacteristic. Obviously, I'll go back to the bullpen with Albey and try to hammer some stuff out with blocking."
"It was a good day offensively to build on. Obviously, defensively there's stuff I want to work on."
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