Scooter Gennett wasn’t meant to replace Joe Panik, he was meant to replace the lack of production from shortstop, second base, catcher, and first base that had dogged the Giants all season.
But he was also a lottery ticket, with 20 strikeouts to just one walk and 15 hits in 72 plate appearances with the Reds this year. But the previous two seasons, where Gennett combined for 50 home runs, was the first of three cherries Zaidi needed in order to win that jackpot. The hope was that he could rediscover that 2017-2018 power stroke and help the Giants push for a Wild Card spot.