Report: Giants sign former Cardinals prospect to milb contract

The SF Giants have signed outfielder Chase Pinder to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to MLB spring training, according to a report by Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle. Pinder is the younger brother of Chad Pinder, who a seven-year MLB veteran who played for the Oakland Athletics from 2016-2022. The younger Pinder will hope to become the second member of his family to play MLB baseball next season with the Giants.

Last season, Pinder hit .264/.401/.417 with 16 doubles, six home runs, 48 walks, and 66 strikeouts in 279 plate appearances at Triple-A. While those numbers may not be exceptional for an older minor leaguer (Pinder turned 27 in March), the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate in Memphis does play in the International League, which is far more pitcher-friendly than the Pacific Coast League, where the Giants Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento plays.

Pinder was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Clemson. Pinder had been a productive player throughout his college career but lacked a clear carrying tool and seemed to profile as a potential fourth or fifth outfielder.

Pinder reached Double-A in his first full minor-league season, but struggled mightily at the plate early in his career. Injuries limited him to just 21 games in 2021 before he seemed to turn a corner the following year. In 62 games at Double-A, Pinder hit .278/.422/.488 with 10 home runs and nearly as many walks (53) as strikeouts (56) before he was promoted to Triple-A.

Pinder is a viable defender at all three outfield positions but is far more experienced in center field. A right-handed hitter, Pinder has flashed significant platoon splits. Over the past two years, Chase Pinder has posted a .974 OPS against left-handed pitching. With Mike Yastrzemski currently slated to be the SF Giants' primary center fielder, a left-handed hitter who has struggled at times against southpaws, Pinder could have a path to a spot on the big-league roster, especially if the team wants to give prospects like Luis Matos and Heliot Ramos more time in the minor leagues.