SAN FRANCISCO — Along with a new team, Andrew McCutchen will have a new position in 2018.
In introducing their latest acquisition Tuesday, the Giants confirmed that the former Gold Glove-winning center fielder will move over to right at AT&T Park.
Hunter Pence will slide over to left field while the Opening Day center field remains to be determined.
The switch was fine with McCutchen — this time. A year ago, he resisted when the Pittsburgh Pirates opened the season by shifting him to right field.
“Now that I’m going into the Giants organization, and this is something that they want me to do, I’m all for it,” McCutchen said on a conference call. “This is where I want to be.”
No major league player has made more starts in center field (1,202) since the start of the 2010 season than McCutchen.
But at age 31, with declining range, the former National League MVP said he embraces the new challenge of patrolling the spacious right-center gap in front of McCovey Cove.
“For me, it’s another center field. I’m just moving over a little bit,” McCutchen said. “I’m still going to be running a lot. And if it’s saving my legs a little bit, and I can get some more stolen bases, I’m all down for it.”
At his new home ball park, it’s 309 feet from home plate to the right-field foul pole, but 421 feet to the deepest part of right-center.
“They call it Triples Alley for a reason,” McCutchen said. “It’s big. If the ball gets out there, you’re going to be in trouble.”
Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, who was also on the call, said he’d already spoke with Pence and found him open to a position switch.
“You know Hunter: He’s a guy that’s going to do whatever you ask of him,” Bochy said. “So there wasn’t a hesitation. … I think he’s just excited about the chance to play with Andrew and improve the outfield.”
Bochy jokingly reminded Pence that the last put him in left field for the 2011 All-Star Game — when Pence responded by nailing Joey Bautista trying to score from second on a single.
As for center field, Giants General Manager Bobby Evans said that there a large number of options remain on the table.
Outfield prospect Steven Duggar, 24, looks to be the long-term answer at the position, but the Giants want to give him more seasoning.
“We think Duggar is pretty much ready. We’d love to give him a little more time at the minor league level,” Evans said. “Although I think he’s going give a big push to make this club.
“But this is the time of year where you’d rather have Duggar in your back pocket if you can and work on other things to bring in a center fielder.”
