SF Giants Player Review 2026: Osleivis Basabe faded after promising MLB return

Nathan Hirschi reviews Osleivis Basabe's 2026 season with the San Francisco Giants, noting that the infielder faded following an impressive start to his major-league return. Basabe was called up on July 28 following injuries to Casey Schmitt and Matt Chapman. He started strong by hitting three home runs in his first few games, including a game-tying double against the San Diego Padres, batting .283 across his first 16 appearances.

However, Basabe suffered a severe late-season decline, hitting just .145 with three extra-base hits over his final 30 games. He also struggled defensively, recording four errors and -6 Outs Above Average across second and third base. Hirschi argues that Basabe is unlikely to retain a spot on the Giants' 40-man roster heading into next season.