In the world of professional baseball, distractions come aplenty, but Tyler Fitzgerald prefers to keep his head in the game. Unlike the rest of us who scroll through TikTok at all hours, Fitzgerald has mastered the art of social media avoidance, focusing instead on his craft. This mindfulness seems to pay off, last summer, he hit a dazzling eleven home runs in just seventeen games, ranking him among legends like Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds. Fancy, huh?

Fitzgerald’s hot streak began on July 9, and for a glorious month, he looked like the baseball version of a rock star, smashing homers left and right. He became the first Giant since Bonds to hit seven dingers in eight games, and even managed to hit for five consecutive nights. But as baseball fans know, what goes up must eventually come down. Fitzgerald then faced a harsh reality check, hitting just one home run over his final thirty-six games and finishing the season with a disheartening .230 average. Classic baseball drama, right?

Embracing the ups and downs, Fitzgerald reflected, “You never really have it figured out, some days you feel invincible, and others, like you can’t hit a beach ball”. Brave words from a young slugger learning the ropes of Major League Baseball, and he’s ready to turn the page on last season’s struggles.

The Giants’ coaching staff noticed Fitzgerald’s promise, especially after they finally let go of Nick Ahmed. With an impressive start under his belt, they could justify transitioning him to second base, especially after signing Willy Adames. Buster Posey, the baseball oracle himself, reassured Fitzgerald during the position switch: “You have everything it takes; just go have fun”. Talk about a PEP talk that puts the pressure on the slackers, Buster is really doing us all a favor here.

Despite a little back pain slowing him down, Fitzgerald is apparently poised to become one of the league’s top second basemen. He’s ditching the utility player gig and zeroing in on mastering his new role. And here’s the kicker: Fitzgerald is actually excited about working with Joe Panik, a former Giant and second base maestro.

With a whopping 71 successful stolen bases in the minors, Fitzgerald is definitely one to watch. If he can get an everyday spot, why not bank on 30 steals or more? In a division that’s harder to crack than a fortune cookie, having Fitzgerald’s speed might just give the Giants the edge they need.

Fitzgerald already got a taste of Posey’s philosophy, he’s encouraged to take risks and not sweat the small stuff. This newfound freedom can only mean big things ahead for this young player who seems to be on the verge of something spectacular. Giants fans, it looks like we may just have a new hero for the 2025 season.