Giants prospect Conner Menez will replace left-hander Drew Pomeranz in the rotation tomorrow, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman reports.
Menez, 24, has risen steadily through the Giants system with little fanfare until quite recently. The lefty, who’s said to have “plus-plus extension” (per FanGraphs, though the site didn’t rank him among the club’s top 35 prospects) and a “high [fastball] spin rate” (MLB.com, where he ranks 21st in the system), led all minor-league left-handers with 171 strikeouts last season. He’s leveled up further in ’19, setting down 123 hitters in just 85 innings for Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento.
Pomeranz, who signed a one-year, $1.5MM (plus incentives) pact this offseason, has furthered has rapid descent in San Francisco. In 72 1/3 innings for the club, the 30-year-old’s been torched for a startling 17 homers in the Giants’ massive park while walking 35 in the process. His 4.60 SIERA, reflective of a typically-stellar K rate and unsustainable 21% HR/FB, is optimistic of a rebound, but it’s the second consecutive 6+ ERA campaign for the lefty who was once swapped straight-up for a then-top 20 prospect. Pomeranz’s average fastball velocity and strikeout rate are both career bests, but his once-vaunted curveball his abandoned him: per FanGraphs, the pitch has been among the league’s worst since the start of the ’18 campaign.
The sizzling-hot Giants, winners of 14 of the club’s last 16, will now line up with Menez, Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija, Shaun Anderson, and Tyler Beede in the rotation as the club surges toward the second wild-card spot. It isn’t a mix that inspires much hope, though perhaps the club’s lights-out bullpen – the only NL unit with a sub-4 collective FIP – can safely be counted on to soften the blows. Schulman does note that, per manager Bruce Bochy, the club rotation’s mix “remains fluid” and the Giants will look to rest starters and limit the innings of the three rookies.
cant believe they havent brought Chris Heston back yet.
Heston wasn’t very good. He hasn’t played a game since mid 2018.
Can’t believe they haven’t brought up Chris Hansen yet
Good one! Now order from Pizza Hut. https://www.pizzahut.com No one out-pizza’s the Hut!
Why order a pizza for my kids from Pizza Hut for $24 when I can get the same Pizza essentially at Papa John’s for $7.99?
Avoid the Noid.
Can we please talk about Beede? Dude has some nasty stuff. His changeup and Curve are disgusting. He has a good fastball. He’s been so much better lately cause he figured out how to keep his composure down. Only 1 walk in last 3 starts.
@dixon
Yeah man I was watching the game and I agree that curve and change up are nasty. One of the best change/curves for a RH pitcher. I can see and being a strikeout picture as he gets more confidence and experience. He’s pitching well last 5 starts
I watched Menez pitch while I was working in Richmond about 6-8 weeks ago, and he’s filthy too 91-94 with a nasty curve. I think he’s going to be a good strike out pitcher.
Another good lefty in AAA Sam selman. He’s putting up video game numbers in the hitter friendly league. I believe he will be called up when they trade Smith or Watson. Check out this link from last night..
https://twitter.com/rog61/status/1152548376250134534?s=20
Trade Watson and keep Smith
Why? You won’t get a ton of value from just Watson. They need as much value as they can get in that farm right now.
That’s exciting! I’m going to the game tomorrow so I’ll get to see his debut. Wasn’t looking forward to seeing Pomeranz but now I’m pumped
Smith will be a free agent and can get help for now & the future
Just don’t trade him to the NL
Who cropped this photo?
I want a pizza
This made me lol
My friend was teammates/friends with Menez when they both played at the masters university! No joke
Cool story bro