Madison Bumgarner made his return to Oracle Park for the first time with fans in attendance since signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
San Francisco Giants fans were understandably upset when seeing their ace Madison Bumgarner walk into the open market in the winter of 2019. It had to sting even worse to see Bumgarner choose to sign on with the rival Arizona Diamondbacks. Even so, the Giants faithful gave Bumgarner the welcome back he truly deserved.
During Tuesday night’s game between the Giants and Diamondbacks, fans in Oracle Park gave Bumgarner a standing ovation once his name was announced over the PA system. Bumgarner proceeded to tip his cap to the fans that cheered him on for the better part of 11 years. This was Bumgarner’s first game back in San Francisco with fans in attendance since signing with Arizona.
Giants fans welcome Madison Bumgarner back to Oracle Park
Bumgarner entered the league as the 10th-overall selection in the 2007 MLB Draft by the Giants, and he made his MLB debut in 2009. The rest was history, as Bumgarner proved to be one of the more dominant pitchers in the league in the prime of his career.
Perhaps the left-handers greatest moment with the Giants came in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. Bumgarner emerged from the bullpen and threw five scoreless innings to close out the Kansas City Royals and to help clinch San Francisco’s third World Series title in five years. As a result of his performance throughout the Fall Classic, Bumgarner was named the World Series MVP.
Through his 11 years with the Giants, Bumgarner owns a 3.13 ERA, a 1.111 WHIP, a 119-92 record and 1,794 strikeouts over 1,846 innings of work. Bumgarner was named to four All-Star games, earned two Silver Sluggers, won three World Series titles and received the 2014 NLCS MVP.
After his stint in San Francisco ended, Bumgarner signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Diamondbacks. Through 17 starts this season, Bumgarner posted a 4.42 ERA, a 1.135 WHIP and 82 strikeouts over 91.2 innings of work.
Bumgarner may be wearing a different uniform right now, but Giants fans are forever grateful for the memories he provide them for over a decade.