Blake Sabol is still adjusting to life as a senior.
In a recent conversation with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt, the versatile Giants quarterback and outfielder shared a funny exchange with an avid member of the San Francisco fan base.
“I really got stuck in Ghirardelli Square,” Sabol said on the latest edition of “BB with Brit.” “A Giants fan found me; I was playing Guitar Hero in an arcade.
He’s like, ‘Hey, are you Blake Sabol?’ So, he got a picture of me holding “Guitar Hero.” [guitar]. It was great to be in Ghirardelli Square. I ate chocolate, had some ice cream and was playing video games, and that’s how I met another fan.”
Sabol, 25, has traveled under the radar to start his professional career. After being selected in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB draft, Sabol spent four years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and was never considered for a Top 30 potential teams.
In December, the Cincinnati Reds selected Sabol No. 4 overall in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft, and later that night traded him to the Giants. Sabol was expected to compete for San Francisco’s backup catcher spot behind Joey Bart in spring training.
“The big league camp this year was pretty cool, just to be in the same locker room with guys like Jock Pederson or Michael Conforto,” Sabol told Brett.
“My first spring training game was against the Cubs. They had like 16,000 people in there, and for me that was a lot of people. I remember after that game, I was like, if I get to the club this year, we’ll be playing in front of a lot more than 16,000.” person “.
He mashed into spring training, hitting .348/.475/.630 in 20 games and earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. Sure enough, Sabol was hitting eighth and playing left field at Yankee Stadium on March 30.
“It was great to debut against the New York Yankees, against the defending MVP [Aaron Judge] At Yankee Stadium,” Sabol told Brett. “I remember running to left field and looking up, seeing the third or fourth extra set that’s out there and I was like, ‘Wow.'”
“It was definitely a surreal experience.”
Sabol is enjoying the ride of his first season in the big leagues. It no longer flies under the radar.
Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast