GLENDALE, Ariz. - Aaron Hill, the 34-year-old career infielder trying to win a bench job, started in left field Monday. Asked to think back to the last time he lined up in the outfield, Hill smiled.
"It was my freshman year of college," the LSU alum said. "We had Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot up the middle."
Fontenot and Theriot eventually made their way to San Francisco. With eight days left in camp, it looks like Hill will, too.
A hitless day Monday dropped his spring average to .242, but the majority of the outs in recent days have been scorched, and Hill has already shown that he can handle three infield spots. He has taken grounders at first base, too, and with Johnny Cueto on the mound, he looked just fine in left.
Hill's biggest test came in the fourth, when Peter Bourjos led off with a triple. Leury Garcia lofted a fly ball down deep down the left field line and Hill made a strong one-hop throw to the plate. There was no shot at Bourjos, one of the faster players in the game, but the throw opened some eyes.
"How'd it look?" Hill said." It felt alright."
Sports
Cueto noted the strength of the throw and Brandon Belt, who was playing first, joked that it looked like 95 mph out of the arm. Manager Bruce Bochy liked what he saw.
As they zero in on an opening day group, the Giants have thrown a number of infielders into the outfield during workouts. Hill has been joined by Gordon Beckham and Jae-gyun Hwang during drills with instructor Cody Ross, and he said he's having a blast.
"That was fun, honestly," he said. "It's been talked about the last couple of weeks, getting me in there. That's the first time in a game and it was fun. It's challenging and it's different, and I'm always up for a challenge. In my position, anything can help."
BAD NEWS: Will Smith will have a second MRI on his left elbow. Here's the story.
ICYMI: The main story today: Johnny Cueto looks ready. Cueto had some fun as he came off the mound in the fifth.
Also, here's my story on Steven Okert. He could end up being really important if Smith misses serious time.
PROSPECT WATCH: Ryder Jones blasted a three-run shot in the eighth and made a very slick pick of a short-hop grounder in the bottom of the inning. He doesn't get brought up much, but he's a really interesting guy because of his athleticism. I've seen him at first and he's pretty good there, and the Giants are going to get him some time in left. As much as we talk about Christian Arroyo's age, remember: Jones is still just 22 years old, and he'll continue to grow into power.
"He's just what you like from a corner guy," Bochy said. "First base, third base, with power. He's got a good arm. They're going to move him around in Triple-A."
