How SF Giants outfield will look with Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger

The Giants’ annual Opening Day tradition, trotting out a new face in left field every season since Barry Bonds’ retirement, appears set to continue this season for the 16th consecutive year.

Although last year’s Opening Day left fielder, Joc Pederson, is back on the roster, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi reiterated Thursday that the Giants intend to primarily use him at designated hitter. Speaking for the first time since their signing of Michael Conforto became official, Zaidi also shed light on how he envisioned him aligning with fellow free-agent addition Mitch Haniger — and who was likely to be Pederson’s successor in left.

“I would imagine having Conforto in left and Haniger in right,” Zaidi said. “… Not saying that’s locked in, but that’s sort of how we’re thinking about it right now.”

It’s likely both guys get time in both corner spots in spring training, he added, and probably the regular season, too.

With Conforto, however, there are concerns about his throwing arm, which makes him a likelier candidate for left. He missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder. Before the operation, he had one of the strongest outfield arms in the majors, but he hasn’t tested it in game action since.

“Lessening the throwing burden at least early in the season probably makes sense,” Zaidi said.

While they may not seem to be the conventional answer to the Giants’ defensive woes from last season, Zaidi believes they will still be better off. Both figure to play everyday, which allows Pederson — rated one of the worst defensive left fielders in the majors last season — to mostly DH and for LaMonte Wade Jr. to take on the primary duties at first base, which Zaidi said they believe is his best position.

“Some of the improvements defensively will be more subtle,” Zaidi said. “Even just having a consistent outfield alignment. … Not having any real defensive liabilities. When we go around our defense now, we see everybody as average or potentially above average defensively. If we can have that kind of floor, that’s where the improvement is going to come from.”

After missing out on Brandon Nimmo and Cody Bellinger, it’s unlikely they make a move for a center fielder, instead relying on the tandem of Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater, Zaidi said.

“We have most if not all our at bats accounted for at those spots right now,” he said.

Conforto, Zaidi said, was an addition the Giants were “particularly excited about.” In the five seasons before his shoulder injury, Conforto hit .259/.364/.473 (an .837 OPS) with 111 home runs in 592 games for the New York Mets.

“Not just because of what he’s done in his career but also a testament to the work of our training staff,” Zaidi said. “Understanding this was a medical situation with a guy who missed all of last year. They did a lot of work on it. We saw him work out multiple times in Arizona. We had a lot of people in the organization who had a hand not just in recruiting Michael but also understanding his situation to feel confident in what he can do for us in 2023. …

“When you jot down the lineup for us on Opening Day and you know that somebody with his track record is going to be right in the middle of that lineup … you feel a lot better about the lineup having him in it.”