Giants release statement on Huff signing

Nov. 23, 2010

GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEO
AUBREY HUFF NEWS CONFERENCE: 2PM!
Editor's Note: In addition to today's news conference, tune in to Chronicle Live tonight at 5pm when Greg Papa is joined by newly-signed Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff!
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants have re-signed Aubrey Huff to a two-year contract with a club option for the 2013 season, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.One of San Franciscos most valuable players in his first season with the World Champions in 2010, Huff established himself as a formidable presence in the middle of the batting order, hitting .290 (165-for-569) with 35 doubles, 26 home runs and 86 RBI in 157 games. Huff, who finished seventh in the MVP voting, led the team in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, home runs, RBI, hits, walks (83), on-base pct. (.385) and slugging pct. (.506). He also ranked 10th in the National League in on-base pct. plus slugging (OPS) with an .891 mark, and was fifth in the league with 28 go-ahead RBI, and seventh with 14 game-winning RBI. Were extremely excited to be able to re-sign Aubrey, said Sabean. He was an integral part in the teams success last season, not only with his outstanding play in the field, but also providing a great clubhouse presence.

In his first career postseason in 2010, Huff batted .268 (15-for-56) with one home run and eight RBI in 15 games to help the Giants win their first World Series in San Francisco history and first overall since 1954. Huff provided a key two-out game-tying single in the 9th inning in the Giants 3-2 victory over the Braves at Turner Field in Game 3 of the Division Series, then gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in Game 4 of the World Series at Texas, hitting a two-run home run off Tommy Hunter. Huff had ended the 2010 regular season having played in 1,479 games without reaching the postseason, which at that time was the third-longest postseason drought. Over 11 Major League seasons, Huff has hit .280 or better seven times, while accruing seven 20-homer campaigns, five years with at least 30 doubles and three seasons with over 100 RBI. His 26 home runs in 2010 was the fourth-highest total by a player in his first season with the Giants since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. Only Barry Bonds (46 in 1993), Jeff Kent (29 in 1997) and J.T. Snow (28 in 1997) had more in their first years with the Giants. Huff, who will turn 34 on December 20, has played multiple positions extensively, logging time at third base (360 games), first base (420 games) and in the outfield (308), mostly in right (271 games). His versatility was an important factor in the Giants success in 2010 as he played errorless defense in both left (24 starts) and right field (33 starts), and committed just three errors all season, all of which came at first base (97 starts). Drafted by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 1998 June draft, the Marion, OH native has posted a lifetime .283 average (1,556-for-5,505) with 329 doubles, 229 home runs and 838 RBI in 1,479 Major League games with Tampa Bay (2000-06), Houston (2006), Baltimore (2007-09), Detroit (2009) and San Francisco (2010).
Courtesy San Francisco Giants Media Services