Giants’ Willy Adames Struggles Early but Shows Signs of Recovery

San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Giants are hoping for improvements from their star free agent signing, shortstop Willy Adames. He signed a seven-year, $182 million contract, which marked the largest deal in franchise history, but his performance has not yet met expectations.

Adames struggled during April with a below-average batting performance, recording a 96 OPS+ and 96 Rbat+. However, since the start of May, there have been signs of a turnaround. In less than half the plate appearances compared to March and April, Adames has already hit three home runs and matched his doubles total from April with five.

His batting line of .276/.344/.517 in May aligns more closely with what the Giants anticipated when they signed him. Overall, Adames is hitting .230/.308/.371, with five home runs, ten doubles, and 22 RBI as of now.

In a promising development for the team, Adames is tied for the MLB lead with 41 RBI early in the season, showcasing his potential. However, questions remain about why he started the season slowly. Reports indicate that his swing speed has decreased in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Adames enjoyed a career year in 2024, hitting 32 home runs, 33 doubles, and 112 RBI, partly due to increased swing speed. This year, he is seeing a notable drop of 1.7 mph in swing speed, which is among the largest drops in the league.

While his teammate Heliot Ramos has not faced similar issues, the decline in swing speed for Adames raises concerns over his long-term performance. As his season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely. The success of his contract may hinge on whether he can regain his previous form.