January can bring a new sense of optimism for the New Year and with spring not that far off, new hopes for Major League Baseball fans.
Giants Fanfest 1
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman signs an autograph for a young fan during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest...
Nearly 6,000 people filled Napa Yard at Oxbow Gardens to celebrate a new baseball season as the San Francisco Giants & KNBR FanFest made the first of ifs four stops on Saturday in downtown Napa.
Giants Fanfest 2
Emilia Ayala, 4, smiles after getting her face painted during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa on Saturday, J...
The Giants will have pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12, position players join them Feb. 17, and play their first spring training game Feb. 23. They are slated to open the season Thursday, March 27 in Ohio against the Cincinnati Reds with a 1:10 p.m. first pitch. The Giants' first home series is against the Seattle Mariners and is to start Friday, April 4.
Giants Fanfest 3
San Francisco Giants fan Morgan Marshall poses for a photograph during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa on Sa...
One of the main reasons there is a renewed sense of hope for the orange and black is that there have been a slew of changes over the winter to change the face of the organization.
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San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks autographs a baseball for a young fan during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest To...
None of the changes has been bigger than three-time World Series champion Buster Posey taking over as the President of Baseball Operations. The hire has made players and fans alike very happy, given Posey's accomplishments during his Giants career.
Giants Fanfest 6
San Francisco Giants fans brave cold weather and long lines to take photos with and get autographs from their favorite players during the firs...
"It's been great," said Giants third baseman and 2024 Willie Mac award winner Matt Chapman of the transition of Posey taking the reins of the organization in the winter. "It's a non-baseball guy in a non-baseball player spot, and he's been open, he's communicated. He's tried to keep us in the loop with what's going on and where his head's at and where the team's at. So that's all you can really ask for. And it's exciting because Buster wants to win. He's not going to settle and I think he's starting to bring in the right people."
Giants Fanfest 7
A fan poses with three World Series trophies during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
One fan who would agree is Justin-Siena senior outfielder-first baseman Henry Meyers, who was taking in FanFest as his reigning North Coast Section Division 4 champion Braves get ready to start practicing for their own season soon.
Giants Fanfest 8
San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal greets fans, many of which had been waiting in line for hours, before the first stop of the 2025 Giants &...
Meyers has good reason to have optimism about the Giants as Posey has been busy this winter adding to the roster. The biggest moves were when the team inked free-agent shortstop Willy Adames to a contract and then added three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Justin Verlander to the rotation on a one-year deal.
Giants Fanfest 9
San Francisco Giants pitcher Tristan Beck poses for a photograph with a fan during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour i...
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"I'm pretty optimistic because I feel like we're just building up," Meyers said. "We're getting ready, we're having a good team, and we're bringing some youth into our program. We're also bringing in some older guys to help the youth. And honestly, it's baseball. Anything can happen."
Giants Fanfest 10
A young Buster Posey fan pauses to look at the Napa River while attending the San Francisco Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa on Saturday...
The signing of Verlander, who made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2005, has made waves across the whole organization. Bringing in someone with his credentials is bound to help a young pitching staff.
Giants Fanfest 11
San Francisco Giants fans Melinda Susan and Judy Waller of Santa Rosa take a selfie while attending the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KN...
"It means a lot. It means I'm going to be a listener for quite a bit," said 23-year-old Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison, a 2020 graduate of Concord's De La Salle High School who is coming off a solid rookie season. "It's just crazy to think about being 4 or 5 years old, and that guy would toe the rubber to debut for the big leagues. That's how much experience he's got. I'm gonna be all ears when he's around, and I'm really excited to learn from him. Heard nothing but great things about him."
Giants Fanfest 12
San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller answers questions from fans during the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa ...
In 2024, the FanFest tour was a huge hit as it took the team all over Northern California. A major difference this year is that the Napa stop kicked off the tour, the North Bay being known for its baseball with its stellar teams and venues.
After going to the stop in San Jose last year, Harrison was excited to see what Napa would have to offer. He had a bit of an idea after playing some games at Cleve Borman Field in Yountville when he was growing up.
Giants Fanfest 13
San Francisco Giants fan and Napan Michael Roth, 11, was decked out in Giants gear while attending the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNB...
"Driving in here, we saw a bunch of cars lined up already, a bunch of people here an hour before it opened," Harrison said. "They said we're expecting a little bit of a smaller crowd. I think it's really a good-sized crowd. Just expecting everyone to come out and have a good time, enjoy it and get ready for baseball season."
Giants Fanfest 14
San Francisco Giants fans braved the cold to stand in line for the first stop of the 2025 Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa on Saturday, ...
Throughout the event, players were shuffled all over the venue to sign autographs for and take photos with fans. Also on hand was mascot Lou Seal. Along with Chapman and Harrison, the Giants at the Napa event were pitchers Erik Miller, Jordan Hicks, Tristen Beck and Ryan Walker.
Giants Fanfest 15
San Francisco Giants fans Erica Alsbury and Levi Biteng of Santa Rosa, having waited in line for four hours, are the first people to enter the...
The players were also interviewed on a stage by FP Santangelo and Brian Murphy of KNBR 680 AM, the radio home of the Giants.
Giants Fanfest 5
Thousands attended the first stop of the 2025 San Francisco Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour in Napa on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
The tour, which is presented by Experience Scottsdale, continues next week with a stop in San Jose and the following week in Sacramento before culminating March 8 at Oracle Park in San Francisco.
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