River Cats Spring Training Update, Vol 1.  

Baseball is officially back in 2023 as the Giants opened their spring training camp with Cactus League action. 34 former and current River Cats are active in Giants Spring Training camp and the impact of the River Cats was felt as soon as league play began.

Six of the nine starters in the Giants first Spring Training game had spent time in Sacramento over the past two seasons. Sacramento fan favorite, LaMonte Wade Jr., hit the first Giants home run of the spring in the league opener, pairing it with a double in his second appearance and consistently flashing the leather at first base.

Three other former River Cats; Joey Bart, Casey Schmitt, and Shane Matheny have found their power stroke early in the spring as well. Schmitt and Matheny both went deep in their first appearance.

It only took Bart until his second game to put a ball on the lawn in the Angels’ Diablo Stadium. The Georgia Tech product has only been retired once so far this spring and has added two doubles and a spectacular pick-off at second base against the Padres.

A big emphasis this spring has been on the larger bases being introduced into Major League Baseball. However, Bryce Johnson showed that no changes will stop him from adding to his stolen base numbers. The second most prolific base stealer in River Cats history got his first stolen base on his first opportunity.

On the mound, 2022 River Cats wins leader, Sean Hjelle, threw two scoreless innings to start off his work in the Grand Canyon State. Hjelle also recorded two strikeouts while allowing no walks in his 2023 Cactus League debut.

Catch former River Cats suiting up for the Giants over the next month as they remind fans that Sacramento is the final stop on “The Road to the Show.”