Editor's Note: The above video is from Oct. 18, 2014.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants have a long history of surprising postseason contributors. In an even year, they're bringing one of them back into the fold.
Travis Ishikawa, the 2014 postseason star, signed a minor league deal with the organization and will report to Triple-A Sacramento as soon as he's ready. Ishikawa was released by the Chicago White Sox in late May after hitting .201 in 175 plate appearances.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"We've just got (a situation) where you're losing guys up here and you're taking guys from (Triple-A)," general manager Bobby Evans said, explaining that the club needed minor league depth. "The timing worked for us."
Ishikawa, 32, was originally drafted by the Giants in 2002 and has played 334 games across six seasons for them. His walk-off homer put the Giants in the World Series two years ago, but he was designated for assignment last July and spent the rest of the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ishikawa thought he had a deal with his hometown Seattle Mariners in the offseason but it fell through. He ended up with Chicago and nearly made the team out of spring training before getting sent to Triple-A.