San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford backhanded Trea Turner's grounder and hurriedly threw to first base, knowing quickness was the key to retire one of Major League Baseball's fastest runners.
The throw was on time but in the dirt, and the first baseman nicely scooped the ball into his mitt for the out, a seemingly routine play for a proven defender such as, say, Brandon Belt.
But this was a new experience for Joc Pederson, and he handled it well, a good sign for the Giants as they try to transform the outfielder/designated hitter into a capable backup first baseman.
"I've been practicing at first a lot," Pederson said Thursday, a day after the Giants faced Turner and Team USA, which is preparing for the World Baseball Classic. "Definitely, game reps are huge. That's why I'm trying to get as many innings as I can."
On another play Wednesday, Pederson mishandled a grounder that could have been a double play and got the out at first instead of retiring the lead runner, something that still seemed doable. Giants coaches let him know to consider throwing to second in such situations.
Pederson will play one more exhibition, Friday against the Rockies, before flying to Florida to join Team Israel in the WBC. He's not expected to play first base for Israel, just the outfield, and will resume first-base training when he returns to Giants camp.
That might be sooner rather than later. Israel is in a pool with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela and opens the competition Sunday against Nicaragua.
"It's going to be fun, a great experience," said Pederson, whose brother, Tyger, is Israel's first-base coach. "I did it before, and I really enjoyed my time."
Pederson is coming off an All-Star season and led the Giants in homers and slugging percentage, though he slid a bit in the second half as he dealt with a concussion and home run drought. He still hit .388 with runners in scoring position, the second-highest figure in MLB, and was among the leaders in exit velocity and hard-hit rate.
The Giants gave him a $19.65 million qualifying offer, which was somewhat of a surprise in the industry. He accepted it rather than seeking a long-term, free-agent deal and will primarily serve as the DH. The addition of Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger will limit his time in left field.
Pederson equated the qualifying offer to the game itself: Stuff happens, you deal with it.
"It's a lot like defense," he said. "In game situations, something is presented to you, and you make the best decision for yourself. I didn't hit free agency. I'm fine with it. I love being here. I'm excited."
In late September, as the Giants were winding down a .500 season, Pederson expressed disappointment he'd miss the playoffs for the first time in his big-league career, saying, "I signed up here after this team won 107 games expecting to compete again. Things didn't go our way. It happens, but I don't enjoy not playing meaningful baseball."
It appeared to be a sign Pederson might prefer to play elsewhere, especially because he was noncommittal when asked if he wanted to return to San Francisco in 2023: "I don't know. I guess we'll see what happens in the offseason."
The qualifying offer spoke volumes, and so apparently did the front office's commitment to bringing in established players. Neither Aaron Judge nor Carlos Correa arrived, but Conforto and Haniger signed, along with several experienced pitchers.
Nowadays, Pederson is all in with the belief this could be a playoff team.
"One hundred percent," he said. "I wouldn't have come back if I didn't feel they were going to make an effort to make the playoffs, and they added a lot of very, very good, talented All-Star players, and it's going to be fun."
With Belt now playing in Toronto, the Giants are transitioning at first base. The plan is for LaMonte Wade Jr. to start against right-handed pitchers and Wilmer Flores or J.D. Davis against lefties.
"I'm trying to learn the position so I'm ready if there's an injury or day off for someone," said Pederson, whose previous attempt to play first base as a Dodger didn't go well. "That's the goal, to be able to fill in and be good."
Reach John Shea: jshea@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
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