SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A brand-new BMW 5 series is a big-league car. In other words, the 2022 graphite gray sedan was an appropriate offseason splurge for the 26-year-old who enters his first big-league camp as the Giants’ incumbent third baseman.
That was the word — incumbent — that president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi used to describe David Villar’s status this spring. Despite a vast array of right-handed hitting corner infielders, the Giants have it made it clear: After 56 home runs over the past two seasons — including nine last year with the Giants — the third base job is Villar’s to lose.
“It’s really just an honor to be in this spot that I’m in, to have the front office and Gabe (Kapler) and all the staff behind me, believing in me and all the work I’ve put in to get to this point in my career, I’m lucky to be in this spot,” Villar said this week, as position players reported for spring training. “I’m excited to take this and just make the most of what I can.”
