San Francisco Giants outfielder Eddys Leonard cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento.
The San Francisco Giants will keep Eddys Leonard in the organization after the outfielder cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento.
Leonard was designated for assignment earlier this week after briefly joining the Giants and making his major league debut. Since he had never previously been outrighted, he must accept the assignment and remain with Sacramento.
The 25-year-old spent several seasons working his way through the minor leagues before finally reaching the majors. Leonard originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent in 2017 and remained in their organization for several years.
The Dodgers eventually traded him to the Detroit Tigers in 2023, and Leonard continued developing at the Triple-A level with different organizations. That persistence finally paid off when the Giants selected his contract earlier this month.
Leonard appeared in three games for San Francisco, collecting two hits in eight at-bats. He recorded a single and a double while striking out twice.
Although his first major-league opportunity was brief, Leonard has produced consistently enough in the minors to remain an interesting option for the Giants.
This season, Leonard has batted .273 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .507 slugging percentage across time with the Milwaukee Brewers and Giants organizations. He has also hit 16 home runs in 324 plate appearances.
His production at Triple-A could give him another opportunity with San Francisco later this season.
The Giants have several players currently ahead of Leonard on their depth chart, including Victor Bericoto, Drew Gilbert and Jung Hoo Lee. Bericoto's return from the Injured List ultimately led to Leonard losing his roster spot.
However, the Giants could have opportunities available as the season progresses.
San Francisco traded Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees before the Trade Deadline, while Casey Schmitt is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery. Those developments could create additional opportunities for players competing for roster spots.
Buddy Kennedy is another player competing for a utility role, but he has struggled offensively since returning to San Francisco earlier this month.
If Kennedy continues to have difficulty at the plate while Leonard keeps producing in Sacramento, the Giants could eventually take another look at Leonard.
For now, Leonard will return to Triple-A with another chance to prove he belongs in the majors. His strong minor league production and defensive versatility could make him a useful option for San Francisco as the team navigates the final portion of the season.
