San Francisco Giants v Colorado Rockies | Rob Tringali/GettyImages

SF Giants multi-positional catching prospect Brett Auerbach got off to a hot start at the plate. On Thursday, he was rewarded with Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors, per a Sacramento River Cats announcement.

Minor league baseball is in full swing after Friday’s opener. The San Jose Giants, Eugene Emeralds, and Richmond Flying Squirrels all played their first game of the year.

However, the River Cats have had a full week of games in the books. Auerbach got off to a hot start, recording five hits, including two home runs, with four RBI in 11 at-bats. He also added a stolen base, and it looks like the River Cats will be a bit more aggressive on the bases than they have been in the past.

Auerbach saw the bulk of his time at third base to start the year. That could change with David Villar returning to the River Cats after clearing waivers and accepting a minor league assignment.

The good news is that Auerbach has experience at several positions, including catcher. He saw a bit more time behind the dish when he was climbing the minor league ladder, but he still gets a few games at catcher each season. If a player can catch, teams will use that.

The 26-year-old utility player also has experience at second base, left field, and right field to go along with third base. There are a lot of ways for him to get into the lineup.

There was plenty of buzz surrounding Auerbach earlier in his pro career. He joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent from the University of Alabama. I should note that he was previously drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 40th round, but did not sign. He went undrafted in 2020.

Auerbach’s first year in 2021 with the Giants organization was a good one. He registered a .288/.379/.529 line with 17 home runs, 56 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 37 opportunities across 368 plate appearances. He split time in Low-A and High-A that season.

However, Double-A tends to be a good litmus test, especially for college bats, and Auerbach struggled at that level over the next couple of seasons. He was even demoted to High-A in 2023.

Since he joined the River Cats last season, the right-handed bat has seen his production at the plate tick up. That has carried over into this year, and the Giants hope that it continues throughout the season. He is off to a good start.