Giants legend Will Clark names 2 Dodgers stars and 1 Athletics rookie as his favorites to watch

1989 NLCS MVP Will Clark played for four teams during his illustrious MLB career, but did his best work for the San Francisco Giants. Clark was a slugger who could hit for contact and power and held a respectable batting average of over .300.

Several sluggers of the modern game find it difficult to make consistent contact. However, there are exceptions. In a recent interview with Ryan Ripken, Clark named three such sluggers.

"Kid from Oakland," Clark said of Jacob Wilson of the Athletics (from 51:33). "I love him, I love him. He's an old school. Matter of fact, Eric Byrnes and I just talked about him. He's old school right there. I'll watch that kid any day of the week."

Ripken agreed with Clark, highlighting that the rookie phenom has exceptional zone control. He added that players with skills like Wilson will always have a spot on any MLB team.

"Another one from the right side that I really like to watch, and, you know, he's playing against us, but is Mookie Betts. I think Mookie does the same thing," Clark said.

Clark pointed out that Betts knows his limitations, but grinds on. After naming two right-handed sluggers, the 61-year-old named his favorite lefty to watch.

"You watch Freddie Freeman," Clark said. "Freddie Freeman can do it all. He can hit it the other way, he can hit it center, he can turn on it and pull it. He's in the zone quite a long time. So there's just three players right now, of the current game, that I watch, that I'm a fan of."

Will Clark is currently a Special Assistant in the Giants' front office. The NL West team is in the same division as Freeman and Betts' Dodgers. Ripken claimed that the Dodgers duo is tough outings for pitchers, and felt sorry for the Giants.

Giants legend Will Clark is unbothered by the tough NL West

MLB's NL West division is arguably the most stacked. In addition to having the Dodgers, the 2024 World Series champions, the division also has the Padres, whom the Dodgers believe were their most formidable opponents despite facing the Yankees in the Fall Classic.

2023 World Series finalists, the Diamondbacks, are also in the division, making it challenging for the Giants. However, Will Clark doesn't feel it that way.

"That's the best," Clark said (from 53:29). "That's the best part right there. We used to have it, those inner division rivalries. I mean, you come out the gate, you get spring training, and that last week in spring training, you're just ready for that bell to ring, 'cause you want to face the Padres and the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks and the Rockies."

Will Clark added that a victory over a division rival impacts the standings more. If the Giants win a game, it means the rivals lose one, thus making a huge impact.

About the author

Safeer M S is a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda, having delved into the sport professionally since 2024. His journey into baseball was sparked by Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable MLB performances, which ignited his passion for the game. Safeer’s enthusiasm for fantasy baseball further fueled his engagement with the sport.

Safeer supports baseball stars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Aaron Judge, with Shohei Ohtani's dual-threat dominance being his most memorable baseball moment. He admires Willie Mays for his athleticism and historic achievements in pinch-hitting and stealing bases.

In addition to his baseball expertise, Safeer is deeply passionate about combat sports, which he has been reporting on since 2022. His journey into combat sports began with Karate lessons in school, followed by boxing training. Films like Rocky 4, Never Back Down, and Warrior inspired his love for MMA, and witnessing Demetrious Johnson's victory over Kyoji Horiguchi solidified his commitment to the sport.

When not immersed in sports, Safeer enjoys playing football, working out, and watching anime or thriller movies.

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Edited by Ruth John S