SAN FRANCISCO — At the start of the season, the San Francisco Giants had a big question mark at second base. Who would replace injured Marco Scutaro, and how long would it be before the invaluable veteran could come back?
As the calendar turns to May, Brandon Hicks is turning that question mark into an exclamation point. He has been so good, nobody seems to notice Scutaro is making little or no progress in his back rehabilitation at extended spring training in Arizona.
Hicks belted his fifth home run of the season Wednesday in the Giants’ 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
To say his power has been a surprise would be the understatement of the season. Hicks entered the season with three career home runs.
Hicks also has been a rock defensively, even though he has committed three errors in 18 starts.
The two other guys in competition for the second base job — Ehire Adrianza and Joaquin Arias — had their roles redefined because of Hicks’ impressive start. Adrianza is being used almost exclusively as a switch-hitting pinch hitter of late, and Arias now serves as the backup at shortstop and third base.