Brandon Belt of the Giants compared to Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw

Brandon Belt Celebrated by Giants as Legendary Career Nears Conclusion

SAN FRANCISCO — For Tony Vitello, there’s one player who stands out alongside Brandon Belt: Clayton Kershaw.

“Essentially, he and Kershaw were probably the two best left-handed players in Texas back then,” the Giants manager recalled, reflecting on his time scouting Belt at the University of Missouri.

Belt, now 38, was celebrated prior to the Giants’ game against the Marlins on Saturday, marking the end of a 13-year MLB journey, mostly spent with San Francisco. While he hasn’t formally announced his retirement, it’s clear that his time in major league baseball will conclude after this year.

Once a topic of heated debate among fans—a phenomenon even termed “Belt Wars”—Belt was integral to two World Series-winning teams and a 107-win season in the National League West. He holds the record for most games played at first base in the franchise’s lengthy history, second only to Willie McCovey.

Interestingly, Vitello initially saw Belt’s potential as a pitcher. When Belt graduated from Hudson High School in Texas, Vitello was just starting his coaching career at Missouri.

At the same time, Kershaw was making a name for himself among high school players in Dallas. The Dodgers picked him sixth overall that spring; the rest is, well, history.

Vitello noted that Belt was equally “incredible” as a pitcher. Unfortunately, shoulder problems redirected him towards becoming a fan favorite in Giants history.

Shifting back to recruiting, Vitello described Belt as “incredibly kind,” although he felt his team had little shot at landing him, as he ultimately chose the University of Texas.

In one memorable conversation, Vitello recalled how Belt talked about hitting a home run. “I joked with him… if you come to Missouri, maybe I’ll let you hit, too,” he chuckled. “Because we recruited him as a pitcher. Not my best call, really.” In hindsight, Belt’s hitting prowess was evident.

Belt pitched in 16 games for the Longhorns, achieving a 4.19 ERA, but it was at the plate where he truly shined, boasting a .321 batting average with 37 doubles and 14 home runs over two seasons.

“He was a nonstop doubles machine,” Vitello remarked. “Facing him was always a challenge… frustrating at times. He was definitely a threat, but you never knew what to expect.”

While Belt might not have had the pitching career some anticipated, his hitting statistics tell another story. His 267 career doubles place him sixth in Giants history, and few moments are as memorable as his epic 21-pitch duel against Angels pitcher Jaime Barria in 2018.