SAN FRANCISCO – Matt Duffy made the Giants’ opening day roster in March merely hoping to get at-bats as a utility infielder. The impact he ended up making as a rookie was measurable – and immeasurable.
His coaches and teammates were so impressed that they voted him the 2015 Willie Mac Award winner, the first time in its 35-year history that the honor went to a rookie.
Chris Heston, another rookie who made a key contribution that included a no-hitter in June, could not sustain his success. His season ended with the wrong kind of bang — a career-high eight runs in 3 2/3 innings — as the Giants lost 9-3 to the Colorado Rockies Friday night.