SCOTTSDALE — Team USA is absolutely loaded, but the roster only has four outfielders, and there’s no need for veteran infielders like Bryce Harper and Alex Bregman to play nine innings on March 3. That left manager Mark DeRosa with a dilemma in the late innings of Tuesday’s exhibition at Scottsdale Stadium.

The Giants had sent DeRosa 11 of their prospects to fill the gaps, and as he started to remove some of his best players, he walked through the dugout and tried to piece together his infield. When DeRosa asked who could play third, Gavin Kilen raised his hand. There was no need to mention that he had not played the position since his freshman year of college.

“I was like, man, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Kilen said later. “I can do whatever you need me to do. I’ll play third if you need me to.”

DeRosa simply needed the prospects to pinch-run and be available to warm up quickly if a big leaguer approached his pitch count. But because the game was such a blowout — Team USA won 15-1 — the young Giants ended up combining for 11 at-bats. 

Kilen, last year’s first-round pick, and Dakota Jordan both had RBI singles. Charlie Szykowny had a double, drove in a run and scored a run, and catcher Zach Morgan replaced Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh for the final inning. Right-hander R.J. Dabovich recorded an out after replacing Chicago Cubs lefty Matt Boyd, who had reached the end of his work day. 

The Giants have made this a tradition every time they have hosted Team USA, and players found out late Monday night that they would be coming over. Kilen and Jordan are among the better prospects who have gotten the honor in recent years, but sometimes it’s a player who is off the radar who ends up breaking through. Closer Ryan Walker was among the seven prospects who joined Team USA for the 2023 exhibition. 

Kilen said he spent plenty of time trying to pick the brains of superstars, and he found them to be open and accommodating. A highlight came when he met Ken Griffey Jr., who now is a photographer and was taking shots throughout the game. 

“What a great experience to be in the dugout with all these guys,” he said. “It was really cool — what a surreal opportunity.”

Got His Work In

Adrian Houser started for the Giants and gave up hits to Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge right away, but he settled in and cruised through the rest of his three innings. Houser showed a 96 mph fastball and struck out Raleigh, Roman Anthony and Kyle Schwarber. 

The right-hander has looked sharp this spring, and he said facing Team USA was good preparation for the regular season. 

“It’s a lot different. You’ve got a really deep lineup, so you have to be smart with all your pitches every time you’re facing every one of them,” he said. “It’s a good cat and mouse game, and we went back and forth.”

The Brothers

David Bednar pitched the top of the eighth for the national team and Will, his younger brother, came on in the bottom of the inning. Both had scoreless frames, with Will getting velocity bragging rights thanks to a 98 mph fastball to Raleigh. 

David watched from the visiting dugout, but he was looking away at the end of the inning when Will finished his frame and tried to make eye contact. The two met up after the game, though, and took pictures behind the plate. 

Sights and Sounds

Bruce Bochy, now an advisor to the front office, is in town this week, and Brandon Crawford visited Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday. At one point during the morning workout, the two were leaning on the dugout rail next to Buster Posey, which led to plenty of interaction. 

A steady stream of Team USA stars stopped by to say hello, including longtime NL West opponents Paul Goldschmidt and Clayton Kershaw, as well as Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal (who will be a free agent next offseason, by the way).

Crawford was also visited by Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, who walked over to shake his hand and say that he loved watching Crawford play. Another No. 35 might have had the coolest interaction, though; Judge spent a few minutes chatting with Rich Aurilia, who was his favorite player growing up. 

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