Giants appoint Will Smith as team's closer before 2019 Opening Day

Get hyped for Giants baseball as Bumgarner takes the mound on Opening DaySAN DIEGO — The Giants played it coy, but ultimately their closer is the same as at the end of last season.

Bochy named Will Smith the closer before Thursday’s season opener but added that he spoke to the relievers and different guys could get a shot at some point. Smith had a strong season in 2018 after coming back from Tommy John surgery, saving 14 games with a 2.55 ERA.

The veteran left-hander was a popular name in trade talks throughout the winter but Farhan Zaidi kept together a group that should be the strength of the team. Smith, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson will get most of the innings at the back end…