“Be patient.”
That was Buster Posey’s message to fans when asked about Willy Adames’ early-season struggles in his first season with the Giants on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus.”
Adames signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with San Francisco this offseason and has batted just .208 in 56 games this season.
“It’s not uncommon when superstar players sign a big deal and struggle out the gate,” Posey said Thursday.
What also hasn’t helped the cause is that Adames’ defense has struggled this season, too.
Adames currently has a .961 fielding percentage, which is fifth-worst among 30 qualified shortstops this season.
“I’ve gone through it as a player when you struggle,” Posey said. “It’s rough. I mean, I didn’t, you don’t sleep well, it’s on your mind all the time.”
Still, just over a third of the way through the season, Posey isn’t wavering in his belief in the 29-year-old and says that through it all, Adames has shown a positive attitude and been a mentor to the younger players.
“For this guy to show up and be the same each and every day, it’s pretty remarkable,” Posey said. “He’s truly a leader, and I’ve got belief that offensively he’s going to find his groove here. He’s always been a bit of a streaky hitter, so hoping that hot stretch is right around the corner.”
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