Giants Shake Up Roster: LaMonte Wade Jr. Designated While Dominic Smith Joins Team

The Giants are making some changes to turn around their struggling offense. On Wednesday, they designated first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. and backup catcher Sam Huff for assignment. They’ve also signed veteran first baseman Dominic Smith to a one-year contract. Additionally, outfielder Daniel Johnson and catcher Andrew Knizner have been called up from Triple-A, while infielder Christian Koss has been optioned.

After a promising start to the season, the Giants have lost 14 of their last 23 games. The team’s batting has been particularly weak, with a combined .209 average in the last two weeks. They haven’t scored over four runs in a game since May 16, and have been held to one run or fewer seven times since then.

Wade, who has struggled this season, has been a big part of this problem. He began the year hitless in 18 at-bats and has maintained a disappointing .167 average. This marks a sharp decline for someone who was a reliable hitter for San Francisco from 2021 to 2024. Wade was involved in a low-profile trade with the Twins that ended up being valuable for the Giants, but now, he finds himself in a severe slump.

Experts suggest that his struggles might stem from a loss of bat speed. Statcast data shows that Wade’s bat speed has decreased from 73.8 mph in 2023 to just 69.7 mph in 2025, placing him in the 18th percentile among major league hitters. Although he still has keen pitch recognition, drawing walks at a notable rate, he hasn’t been able to capitalize on those opportunities.

Interestingly, Wade’s on-base statistics don’t entirely reflect his difficulties. His average on balls in play is well below average, partly due to an increased fly-ball rate. This could mean that his hard-hit balls are less effective, making it harder for him to bounce back.

In Wade’s absence, Dominic Smith will fill the first-base position. Smith has a mixed record but has shown he can still contribute. He recently performed well in Triple-A, providing hope that he can stabilize the spot for now. Meanwhile, top prospect Bryce Eldridge has been promoted to Triple-A and could soon make his major league debut.

As for the catching situation, Patrick Bailey has been solid defensively but has struggled offensively. With Huff’s batting average lingering near the bottom, the Giants are hoping Knizner can offer a boost. He has been impressive in Triple-A, boasting a high batting average.

Overall, these shifts are part of the Giants’ strategy to generate more offense. Whether these changes will produce the desired results remains to be seen, but the team is clearly aiming for improvement. As the season progresses, fans will be watching closely to see if this reshaped roster can turn the tide.

For more statistics on players’ performance trends, you can check Baseball Reference.

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