Giants cut popular Hunter Pence: outfielder, leader, World Series champion

[Auggie]

The Giants designated Hunter Pence for assignment Sunday, cutting ties with the outfielder who was a key figure and inspiration on two World Series championship teams.

Pence was hitting .096 (5-for-52) with two homers and six RBIs in 17 games. He was signed in February as a free agent for $3 million after he spent a year with the Rangers, mostly as a designated hitter. The Giants were hoping he’d hit as he did in 2019 (.297, 18 homers), but the 37-year-old never rediscovered his groove.

According to the DFA rules, the Giants have seven days to trade Pence, release him or place him on irrevocable outright waivers.

Pence received the news Saturday night, and manager Gabe Kapler said, “Last night, he could not have handled that conversation any more professionally. He actually came with a lot of gratitude. He said thank you to everybody in the clubhouse, front office, ownership. He came across super grateful. That’s who Hunter is.”

https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Giants-cut-popular-Hunter-Pence-outfielder-15508555.php

shit

Nice guy. Good teammate. Hard worker. Never heard a bad thing about him. Hope he can find his swing and a spot on someone's roster. Good luck, dude. And thank you.

[Auggie]

1. Pence starred in one of the greatest baseball commercials ever made ...

Starts after the Bruce Boche lead-in ...

[Sneederbunk]

2. His name has become a jinx

[Brother Buzz]

10. There was the time he was forced to change name after losing a bet with his new wife

[Ohiogal]

3. Wow.

[onecaliberal]

4. Damn...

[msongs]

5. made 3 million this year? poor thing nt

[Brother Buzz]

6. Bummer. Underpants was arguably the most entertaining ballplayer to watch, on or off the field

His head was ALWAYS into the game; he was essentially to soul of the club.

[Brother Buzz]

7. Hunter Pence totally has his head on square....

FWIW, there are rumors he's talking with a couple of clubs, and the Rangers isn't one of them.

[Auggie]

8. Class act

Thanks for posting, Brother Buzz

[Brother Buzz]

11. Class act in spades!

Hunter Pence was released from the Giants, yet he was nominated for the 2020 Roberto Clemente Award.

The respect for him runs really, really deep, and if he was to actually win the award, he would deliver in SPADES! It's just who he is.

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. My favorite Hunter Pence memory, from the World Series years: The Hunter Pence signs!

The Hunter Pence signs!

Somebody in New York held up disparaging signs:
"Hunter Pence eats pizza with a fork!"
"Hunter Pence puts ketchup on his hot dogs!"

Then everywhere the Giants went, fans held up Hunter Pence signs.

Then back in San Francisco, a woman held up a classic sign: "Hunter Pence returns his library books on time". She turned out to be his girlfriend (now wife, I think).