The Belt Factor

For years now, the homegrown talent in the San Francisco Giants pitching rotation has paved the way to their recent success. One problem they've also endured however, is developing promising young talent at the first base position. The 2010 World Champions who haven't had an everyday first baseman pan out since Will 'The Thrill' Clark did in the late 80's, are hoping they finally found their answer in Brandon Belt. Since being selected in the 5th round of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Texas native has rapidly moved his way through the Giants farm system, and into Spring Training where he awed skipper Bruce Bochy and played well enough to earn a spot on the Giants Opening Day roster.

Accompanying Belt through his big league journey, will be last year's Rookie of the Year, Buster Posey who was in Belt's very position last season after being called up in late May. The mid-season call up of Posey propelled the Giants in the division and helped ease the burden on the rest of the cast, in routing the franchise to their first ever World Series title since moving out west in 1956. With all that taken into account, who better to have Belt be shown the ropes to than the 2008 Golden Spikes Award winner who at times last year moved from his everyday catching position to man first base.

On Opening Day this past Thursday, Belt made his Major League debut where he finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk, logging his first big league hit in his very first at-bat off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The following day, Belt connected with his first career home run over the centerfield wall, a 3-run shot off Chad Billingsley. Something the Giants organization hopes to see a lot more of for many years to come. Eventually, Belt's big moment would be negated by two Giants errors, spelling doom for the reigning World Champs who went on to lose to the game, 4-3. Ironically, the homer came just one day later than the aforementioned Will Clark who hit his first big league blast in his Major League debut off Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.

Although his long ball came one game shy of Clark's, the Giants front office isn't the slightest bit reluctant to think the left-handed hitting Belt could be the next All-Star first baseman Clark was in his 8 years with the franchise, making it to the mid-summer classic five times while a member of the Giants. Expected to share duties at first with Aubrey Huff once the ailing Cody Ross returns from the Disabled List, Belt does have some experience in the outfield, having played double-digit games in both corners while in the Minors. Luckily for the soon-to-be 23 year old Belt, his versatility just might be his most valuable quality, with Pat Burrell struggling and both Ross and Andres Torres sidelined with injuries.
A demotion to the Minors is another option for Giants manager Bruce Bochy, and wouldn't be all that bad for Belt who's hitting .143 after his first 10 games. Every stop of the way while in the Minor Leagues last year, Belt tore the seams off the ball, hitting a combined batting average of .352 with 112 RBI's and 23 homers. With that being said, just how does one add to an already impressive resume? The trip down to the Minors for a month or so would help Belt get his rhythm back on track and help him translate his game to the main stage.

Though most usually see a return o the minors as a negative, the move would only further his skill set and add some seasoning to the Giants number one prospect, paying dividends once he's brought back up. Since slowing down after his impressive series against the Dodgers, Bochy made it clear that it's still way too early in the developing process to judge where his rookie stands. "We're going to be patient with him, he'll figure it out."