Scott Kazmir’s comeback story is complete, as the Giants have selected the veteran southpaw’s contract from Triple-A. Kazmir will start for the Giants in today’s game against the Dodgers — ironically, the team Kazmir last pitched for in the big leagues, back during the 2016 season. In corresponding moves, outfielder Braden Bishop was designated for assignment, and left-hander Sam Selman was optioned to Triple-A.
After appearing in parts of 12 MLB seasons from 2004-16, Kazmir pitched 12 innings with the Dodgers’ Triple-A team in 2017 but it seemed like his career was drawing to a close. However, the left-hander announced in early 2020 that he was preparing a comeback attempt, and after a stint in independent baseball, Kazmir landed a minor league deal with San Francisco last February.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is no stranger to Kazmir, as the southpaw pitched for the Athletics and Dodgers when Zaidi was working in those clubs’ front offices. Since being hired as the Giants’ PBO, Zaidi has also developed a knack for finding hidden gems and reviving stalled careers — this roster development can be seen in the standings, as many of those unheralded players have helped the Giants to a 28-17 record.
Kazmir might represent the most impressive revival yet, considering his 37-year-old age, his long absence from the big leagues, and the number of injuries that dotted his career. It is worth remembering, however, that when Kazmir was in his prime, he was a very effective pitcher. Kazmir has appeared in three All-Star games, helped the Rays reach the World Series in 2008, and he has a 4.01 ERA over 1689 2/3 innings.
San Francisco has received excellent results from its rotation so far, though Kazmir will now get an opportunity due to injuries to Aaron Sanchez and Logan Webb. Sanchez’s return may be a while off and Webb’s shoulder strain isn’t thought to be overly serious, but Kazmir will get some time to show what he can do in 2021.
Bishop’s tenure with the Giants could come to a quick end, as the team only claimed him off waivers from the Mariners on May 17. Bishop has appeared in each of the last three MLB seasons, hitting .133/.188/.156 over 99 plate appearances with Seattle.
“Now there’s a name I’ve not heard in a long long time…”
“I wonder if he means old Ben Kazmir?”
You win.
Oh you know him?
I was going to comment this!
Wow wasn’t expecting to see his name again. With the way the Giants are revitalizing careers this year, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see 100 innings of 2.50 ERA ball lol.
Reminds me of a few years back when Boston gave the ball to Rich Hill The Giants would love for Kazmir 2.0 to be like Hill 2.0.
Or a few years back when Cleveland gave the ball to Scott Kazmir. The Giants would love for Kazmir 3.0 to be like Kazmir 2.0.
Stories like this make baseball so much fun.
He’s made just under $100MM in his career.
He has absolutely no financial incentive to pitch again.
Yet…
The fact that today’s opponents are paying him $8M this year from a contract he signed with them five years ago makes baseball so much strange.
Welcome back. Fun story.
I hope this turns into a feel good story and he has a great season.
LESSGOOO I LOVE THE COMEBACK STORY
Good comeback story!
BUT YOU SEPARATED THE BISHOP BROTHERS AGAIN HOW DARE YOU THAT ARTICLE I READ WAS SO HEARTWARMING 🙁
Tim Lincecum next
Nah, Juan Marichal…..
Brett Lawrie just sitting at home doing nothing.
So clever
Julio Franco
My fave player growing up till Pudge Rodrigues came along.
Jeff Samardzija.
I watched Bartolo Colon’s 1st Mexican league start. As much fun as that would be, he’s not looking MLB ready.
A 2 year break, then a 4 year break? Unheard of. He’s still not that old, he might reel off another 2013-16 run, there’s still time. What an awkward looking stat sheet. If he’s for real I bet Oakland gets him again at some point, haha.
Watch him win 10 games ,pitch 100 in with a 2 plus era lol. Good feel story though.
The Kazmanian Devil has returned
Let’s see if he can throw 50 pitches without his back flaring up.
Song: Kashmir
Artist: Dixie Dregs
Album: Bring ‘Em Back Alive
Another great comeback, but for Kashmir.
Super weird to reference an odd 90s cover of the Led Zepplin classic but you do you hayzee
tough first game opponent though, kind of feel sorry for him
I don’t. If he has a bad game, it can be written off as “It’s the Dodgers, what do you expect.” However, if he had a bad first game against the Diamondbacks or the Rockies, what could you say then? And if has a good first game against the Dodgers, he just bought himself a job probably for the whole year.
I wasn’t talking about the Dodgers, I was referring to the ghost of Crazy Crab. Bad juju on a Saturday night.
Wish Kazmir all the best. As an Angels fan, he didn’t have a good stint with the club and his career seemed all but over. I’ve been pulling for him ever since. However, at 37 with a four-year absence from the big leagues it will be an uphill battle.
Rich Hill exists tho…
aaaayyyy he’s back!
SCOTT KAZMIR- Always great. And by always, I meant the decade before last.
well it was fun while it lasted…
kazmir we”l see ya on the way out.
do you guys honestly believe he’ll pitch effectively today???
this isn’t ;ike trey mancini or anything….
Way to be negative before the guy throws a pitch. What does Trey Mancini have to do with this?
Well DodgedKing, 1 run in 4 innings. Pretty decent, maybe the dodgers aren’t as potent as you believe
He was throwing his fastball at 94 mph. With the Dodgers he was mid-80s probably due to some injury. Odd at 37 years that he has regained velocity. Don’t think that the Giants’ starting pitching is sustainable in the long run but they are sure maximizing their starting pitching dollars right now.
Their not potent right now, but hey, when your in a slump, why not go pick on Triple A by the Bay while they heal up?
you’re right abc, the lack of potency is temporary. But 2 things for you, 1) when you lost a lot of games earlier, I knew the dodgers would get hot and I’m not a Dodger fan. 2) your “Triple A by the Bay” comment without criticizing the idiot above who compared Kazmir to a cancer survivor proves the you are a complete moron. Normally I’d say you’re like every dodger fan but I won’t because there are several good fans that post. Like Cey Hey and Blue Skies to name 2 of several. I enjoy posting with all of them. Unfortunately, there are a few whiny Giant fans that also post. I wish they, like you, would get lost.
You spent way too much of your time on my /s/; that being said, sorry to offend you. Truly, I am a Dodger fan through and through, but Farhan and staff have done a great job. That being said, in the spirit of the rivalry, I will take jabs that quite frankly SHOULDN’T make the most delicate of soul;s bat an eye.
I’m delicate to ignorance. You’re ignorant.
Oh so now you are just trolling for a tissue and a hug. Can’t have neither.
Hahaha, the dude dealt and did very well last night. Actually been pretty close games considering how the pitching matched up the past two games. Your one two punch against Giants four/five punch. I’ll take it
Kazmir is an interesting choice as tonight’s opener. He’s retooled since he last pitched for the Dodgers in 2016, so the current Dodgers won’t have much of a scouting report on him. I’m rooting for a decent showing though I want the Dodgers to win the game. Gotta root for the underdog chasing his dream, even though he can afford to not be doing this. March to the beat of your own drum, not someone else’s. In that sense, he’s pitching tonight for all of us.
I’m excited. I remember watching him in spring training for the braves in 2017 (18?
Time has slipped away in the last half decade!) and he was barely hitting the middle 80s with most command. I felt sorry for the dude after the braves cut him so I’d like nothing more than for. Him to be stellar
I got what I wanted. Kazmir pitched well and the Dodgers won the game. Good stuff. Kazmir’s performance and Pujols giving his gamer bat to a kid are a couple of feel-good reminders of why I love baseball.
Dodgers paying him to start against them tonight.
Snell is the modern version of kazmir. Solid first couple of years then falls off in his late 20’s
Although left handed, they are vastly different from one another, @tatsumaki. Snell stands 6’4″, Kazmir 6′ 0″ just to start.
Kazmir relies on a 6 pitch repertoire; 2 seam, change up, cut FB, slider, 4 seam, curve, & uses them all.
Snell throws significantly harder & works with a more traditional mix of; 4 seam, slider, change, & curve.
Different deliveries, different release points, different extension (hat tip to @Rangers29 who showed me how to find extension over on Savant).
I’ve watched both of them throw.
Guess I’m failing to see the comp. Perhaps I’m looking at the wrong stuff. Any insight you can provide would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
Did Scott Kazmir ever win a Cy Young?
Doomsday !!!
Always rooted for him after the Mets traded him to TB.
Mark: I was already going with your PoBO, and now you’ve changed it to PBO?
And, since Braden Bishop was with the M’s, and the Giants had the best record in the NL on 5/17, didn’t every team in MLB have a chance to claim him before the Giants did? If so, that would make me believe he may clear waivers, and be outrighted to Sacramento.
I bet he does
Can’t wait to watch the Dodgers tee off on this guy
Still waiting?
I will say that I’m impressed that he’s made it back to the majors. I’ll definitely give him that
Is it ironic, or merely coincidental, that Kazmir is starting tonight against the last team he played for? I’m struggling to see the irony.
It is a coincidence, but to be fair the vast majority of people misuse ironic far more often than they use it correctly. True irony just doesn’t happen that often.
“It’s like ra-a-ain, on your wedding day…”
Not sure if the Giants play Mariners this year. Kazmir vs Kelnic. 2 players who should have been career mets.
It’s an interesting story but he has pitched 6.1 innings since 2017. How does he earn a start in the bigs in 2021? Aren’t there more youngsters out there who deserve it more?
Well…my theory is that he worked his ass off. But I’m open to hearing others.
Giants had no one to start the game, barring going without a full bullpen game. They have no long guy/spot starter in the ‘pen, as that was supposed to be Webb. We kept hearing that Webb was going to the ‘pen then one of the starters would have a minor injury to rest/rehab: And now Webb’s injured (10 day)! and Sanchez is out until likely June. Good news about Sanchez because there was worry when he went to get a consult from Dr. Neal ElAttrache because of biceps tightness, the outcome was “promising” per Kapler.
also…what @Ducky said. Kazmir has worked hard in the minors and looked serviceable. Stretched to 60, so could do the long relief in a tight spot.
Pitched well today: 4 innings, 55 pitches 38 strikes, 1 run on 2 hits. 2 Ks no BBs. Gave up both hits to Muncy and one was a HR, but even elite pitchers give up one long ball to the Dodgers. Those guys hit a lot of home runs.
Game is not over yet, so maybe he won’t get the loss, but we all know W/L doesn’t tell the whole story.
Curlywasthesmartstooge –
Are you kidding me are you just an idiot? If there was a younger pitcher who “deserved it more”, they would have brought him up instead. This is a team fighting for first place in their division, if you haven’t noticed. They’re is going to be a movie made about this guy one day….very rare perseverance and love for the game. Sure don’t understand your kind of “thinking”. Good luck in life, my friend.
My heart sank for a minute there when i read they designated Outfielder Bishop for assingment. I realized after a couple seconds i was thinking of Hunter Bishop at first and thought that their recent 1st round draft pick had already turned into a complete busted pick
My best friend and I met Scott Kazmir at a devil rays fan fest close to 15 years ago. Really nice guy, this makes my heart feel warm. What a journey! Good luck, Mr. Kazmir! I’ll be rooting for you!!
Thx for coming back.
– Max Muncy
Mr Geography hit one into the “ocean” tonight
Almost read Braden Bishop as Burke Badenhop.
Soctt Kazmir. Wow. Another arm great young arm that either didnt live up, fizzled out, or got traded by the Mets…..
Ryan, Gooden, Pulsipher, Wislon, Fulmer, Matz,, Harvey, Wheeler
Ironically? No, coincidentally.