Giants designate Mac Williamson for assignment, Pablo Sandoval makes club

SAN DIEGO–The Giants’ release of their Opening Day roster turned out to be anticlimactic, but that wasn’t good news for Mac Williamson.

The Giants announced Thursday they have designated Williamson, 28, for assignment after the power-hitting corner outfielder hit .237 in 59 spring at-bats. Williamson can still remain in the Giants’ organization if he clears waivers and is outrighted to Triple-A, but after a rough spring, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi elected to move in a different direction in the outfield.

“We’ve made a focus on improving the outfield defense and I think with our roster configuration, having outfielders that could either play center field or could move onto the dirt as needed, that kind of flexibility was important for us,” Zaidi said.

Williamson was the only player who’s future remained uncertain after Tuesday’s final exhibition game. The outfielder took a hit by pitch off his right wrist and appeared to be a candidate for a trip to the injured list, but after X-rays came back negative, the Giants chose not to keep Williamson on their 40-man roster.

The Giants selected Williamson in the third round of the 2012 draft out of Wake Forest. He showed flashes of potential throughout his minor league year and appeared to turn a corner after revamping his swing in 2018, but a devastating concussion suffered after he crashed over the bullpen mounds and into the wall in foul territory at Oracle Park derailed his season.

The Giants listed four outfielders on their initial 25-man roster including Rule 5 draft choice Connor Joe and waiver wire acquisition Michael Reed. Both Joe and Reed were acquired within the last week by Zaidi after the competition for spots in the Giants outfield proved underwhelming this spring.

“Mac was more of a classic corner guy so unfortunately, the way our roster came together, it made him a tougher fit than the other guys,” Zaidi said.

Joe is expected to make his major league debut Thursday in his hometown of San Diego.

San Francisco kept 13 pitchers on its Opening Day roster including five starters and eight relievers. Rule 5 draft choice Travis Bergen made the club as the team’s third left-handed reliever as he’ll join veterans Tony Watson and Will Smith in the bullpen.

The Opening Day roster

Starters (5)

Madison Bumgarner, Derek Holland, Dereck Rodríguez, Drew Pomeranz, Jeff Samardzija

Bullpen (8)

Mark Melancon, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson, Will Smith, Reyes Moronta, Nick Vincent Trevor Gott, Travis Bergen,

Catchers (2)

Buster Posey, Eric Kratz

Infield (6)

Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Yangervis Solarte, Pablo Sandoval

Outfield (4)

Gerardo Parra, Steven Duggar, Connor Joe, Michael Reed