SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sitting at his locker Thursday morning, Jorge Soler’s face brightened up when he was asked about the neighbor to his right.
The reaction likely mimicked the one Soler had earlier this month, when Wilmer Flores’ face appeared on the Zoom call between him, Farhan Zaidi and Bob Melvin in what turned out to be a successful pitch to bring the big Cuban to San Francisco.
Such a team player, Flores — the 2023 Willie Mac Award winner — didn’t flinch when the Giants asked him to help with their pitch to Soler, which also had the help of Thairo Estrada. But the act was extra selfless for Flores, who could stand to lose playing time by convincing the designated hitter to come aboard.
“I don’t think I’m going to take any at-bats away from him,” Soler said through Spanish-language interpreter Erwin Higueros.
But the reality is, Flores was the Giants’ regular right-handed designated hitter last season. And with J.D. Davis at third, most of the at-bats Flores got this season besides being the platoon partner to LaMonte Wade Jr. at first figured to come at DH. That is, until the team signed Soler this week.
“It’s been like that every year, I guess,” Flores said. “I don’t know what to say. I’m getting ready to play.”
He’s right.
Flores was the Giants’ best hitter last season, leading the team with a .284 batting average, 23 home runs, and an .864 OPS.
Before becoming a near-everyday presence in the Giants’ lineup in the second half of the season, Flores started only 37 of the team’s first 85 games. Fifteen of his home runs came after the All-Star break.
“I think if you had just went into the year with him as your DH and planned to give him 500 or 600 at-bats, you’d be in pretty good shape just because of what he can bring in that spot,” president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said. “But we’ve just learned the way he can cover at first, at third, and certainly DH, just expect that he winds up accumulating at-bats in those spots.
“One of the things that’s so valuable about him is that he can go from being a part-time guy or just playing against lefties to suddenly playing every day for two or three weeks. He knows how to manage all those situations, which is really valuable, too.”
This offseason, Flores displayed his value in another area: recruiting.
While he has recommended players in the past, and always felt free to share his thoughts, Flores had never been involved in a formal free-agent meeting like this before.
Soler preferred to be on the East Coast, closer to his home base in Miami. That’s also where Flores makes his offseason home, and where the two got to know each other hitting together a few winters ago. It was only natural to involve Flores, who helped assuage any concerns for the slugger who hadn’t played west of Kansas City.
“It was really good seeing him and Estrada on the Zoom call. It gave me more confidence to open up more,” Soler said. “As you know, when you talk to executives you’re kind of shy a little bit. But then when you see some of your colleagues, your new teammates, obviously you open up a little bit more.”
The Zoom call took place about a month after Flores returned home from his native Venezuela, where he played winter ball for the first time since 2016, when he was still an up-and-coming prospect.
The rosters aren’t typically full of veteran major leaguers. Flores’ most decorated teammate was Luis Torrens, a 27-year-old utilityman who’s bounced around the majors the past few seasons. But this year was extra special, Flores said, because he had arranged to be traded to his hometown team, Navegantes del Magallanes.
“They didn’t think I’d play,” Flores said. “It’s a different kind of baseball, but it was fun.”
It allowed him the opportunity to play in front of friends and family who don’t normally get the chance to watch him in person, which Flores called “the best part” of the experience. The team was mediocre (finishing 24-33), and Flores was one of their top hitters, batting .305 with eight extra-base hits and more walks than strikeouts.
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So, it wasn’t all that different from his experience stateside last season.
This year looks to be off to a similar start, at least for Flores.
By the time September rolls around, he figures to have carved out a crucial role.
“I’m here. I just wait for the call,” Flores said. “If it’s every day, if it’s every other day, I don’t put a label like this is what I’m gonna do now. I’m getting ready to play. It’s better than getting ready not to play. Just get ready to play, and if I don’t play, then cool, I’m ready.”
If he could change one thing, though, it would be a new home run leader. That would be the ultimate payoff of his work this offseason.
“Ah,” Flores chuckled. “That’ll be Jorge. Definitely.”
