CHICAGO — Thairo Estrada entered the year with just 113 career Major League games under his belt in three seasons. He simply hadn’t been given many chances to prove himself in the big leagues.
But when given the opportunity in San Francisco, Estrada has performed. His go-ahead home run in the seventh inning was the deciding factor in the Giants’ 4-2 win against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday night.
“I think what I take more pride in is being able to do things to help the team win,” Estrada said via interpreter Erwin Higueros. “And again, showing the talent that I have to be able to at least contribute to getting a win.”
After being traded from the Yankees to the Giants in April of last season, it didn’t take long for Estrada to break the surface in San Francisco. He slashed .273/.333/.479 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs across 52 games during his first year with the club.
But it’s been his 2022 season that has impressed the Giants organization.
“[On Saturday], I had Thairo in the lineup to start and we had a few coaches who said, ‘Hey, Thairo really needs a day off,'” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He played [eight] games and both legs of [Thursday’s] doubleheader. And part of the reason he’s playing so much is because he’s dependable and steady and seems to bounce back and always looks like he’s fresh on the field.”
The month of September for the Giants is all about letting younger players grow and giving them the opportunity to prove themselves. With Estrada’s 2-for-4 day at the plate, with one home run and two RBIs, the 26-year-old keeps evolving as a player.
“Staying healthy is the number one thing,” Estrada said. “The other is the trust that the manager had in me and giving me the opportunity to play. I just have taken advantage of that in showing what I can do.”
Estrada’s plate appearances this season continue to show the type of offensive player he can be. He had a career-best 11-game hitting streak earlier this year and his career highs in doubles (19), homers (13), RBIs (55) and walks (27) show his year-long consistency at the plate.
“The more you do one thing, the more experience you get,” Estrada said. “The more I go out there and play every single day, I feel more comfortable.”
But it’s been his speed on the basepaths that has elevated his all-around game — something that wasn’t a factor in his first three Major League seasons. Over those campaigns, Estrada stole just six total bases.
In 2022, his speed has been let loose.
Estrada stole his 18th base of the season on Sunday, when he sprinted 28.2 feet per second to reach second base safely. Those 18 stolen bases have him tied for sixth in the National League with Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner and Mets outfielder Starling Marte.
“I’d like to think that I’m very fast,” Estrada said. “And on top of that, the work that I put in during the offseason to improve my speed. It goes back to when I was with the Yankees. I [worked] more on my body being agile, being able to move fast and I have carried that all the way to now.”
Estrada’s 18 bag swipes are the most by a Giant since Eduardo Núñez stole 18 bases in 2017. If the utility specialist steals two more bases over the final 22 games, he would be the first Giant since Hunter Pence in 2013 (22) to reach the 20-plus stolen base mark in a season.
“I don’t think there are any personal goals,” Estrada said. “I guess it’s just a matter of making sure that I have my first full season. And as the time goes by, as the years go by, as the games go by, I start learning more. That’s what baseball is and just taking advantage of the opportunity.”
As Estrada gets more experience in the big leagues, his comfort level at the plate and in the field has started to take shape. On Sunday, he continued to show that he can be a key asset to San Francisco’s future.
“He can be electric on the field,” Kapler said. “We’ve talked about the power that has come out this year. He’s always had it, but I think he’s getting to it more consistently. He’s a very self-made man. He deserves all the credit for his success.”
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