Pederson continues improbable Giants Opening Day streak in LF

Joc Pederson grew up in the Bay Area and spent his childhood watching a Giants team led by Barry Bonds. When the Giants take the field today, he'll extend an incredible streak that goes all the way back to Bonds' final year in orange and black. 

Pederson, who signed with the Giants in March, will become the 16th different player to start in left field on Opening Day over the last 16 years. The Giants haven't had a left fielder go back-to-back since Bonds in 2006 and 2007. The next year, current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts took over, and a crazy streak began. 

Here are the 16 left fielders, starting in 2007: Bonds, Roberts, Fred Lewis, Mark DeRosa, Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, Andres Torres, Michael Morse, Nori Aoki, Angel Pagan, Jarrett Parker, Hunter Pence, Connor Joe, Alex Dickerson, Austin Slater and now Pederson.

It's a revolving door that never stops, although there was actually a chance for the streak to end this year. Slater is still on the roster and would have been an option had lefty Trevor Rogers gotten the call, but the Marlins made hard-throwing right-hander Sandy Alcantara their Opening Day starter.

Incredibly, the streak wasn't even the longest active one in the Majors after last season, or the longest involving left field. MLB's Sarah Langs pointed out that the San Diego Padres have had a left field turnstile that goes back to Bruce Bochy's time as manager:

The Padres' run started with Ryan Klesko and included both Upton brothers, but it ended Thursday when Jurickson Profar started in left for the second consecutive season. 

RELATED: Webb, Bart set for 'very special' moment for Giants on Opening Day

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The Giants are still going, and there's a decent chance this goes into next season. Pederson only signed a one-year contract.

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