The Giants announced a few more Spring Training cuts today, optioning left-hander Kyle Harrison and right-hander Keaton Winn to Triple-A, and reassigning lefty Joey Lucchesi to the team’s minor league camp. With Harrison now slated for Triple-A, Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp are the last pitchers competing for the fifth spot in San Francisco’s rotation.
Harrison seemingly had a rotation job all but officially locked up following the former top prospect’s first full MLB campaign. It wasn’t exactly a breakout year since Harrison posted a modest 4.56 ERA and a modest 22.2% strikeout percentage over 124 1/3 innings, but it seemed like the southpaw had done enough to claim his place in the Giants’ pitching staff going forward.
However, Harrison’s season saw him spend time on the injured list due to first a sprained ankle, and then a shoulder impingement in September that ultimately brought his year to a close. As Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area writes, Harrison’s shoulder issue was caused because he tried to return too soon from his ankle injury, and the 23-year-old subsequently spent a good chunk of his offseason getting his shoulder back to full strength.
That disruption to Harrison’s winter routine was then followed by a virus that waylaid Harrison near the start of Spring Training, costing him 13 pounds of weight and quite a bit of lost build-up time in camp. Harrison has made only three appearances in Cactus League games, with a 10.80 ERA to show for his 6 2/3 innings of work.
San Francisco’s rotation mix as a whole was altered when the team signed Justin Verlander, and decided to give Jordan Hicks another chance as a starting pitcher. Between those two veteran hurlers, Logan Webb, and Robbie Ray, there was now just one remaining spot in the rotation, and Harrison’s lost time cost him dearly against tough competition. Given how well Birdsong (0.75 ERA in 12 innings) and Roupp (3.75 ERA in 12 innings) have looked this spring, Harrison might have been hard-pressed to win a job even when healthy.
Birdsong looks like the favorite for the fifth starter’s job at the moment, and Roupp could still make the team in a bullpen role. Roupp worked as a reliever in 19 of his 23 appearances for the Giants in his 2024 rookie year, posting a 3.58 ERA over 50 1/3 innings. Birdsong also made his MLB debut last season, with a 4.75 ERA across 72 innings (starting all 16 games).
I’m surprised but injuries are risky
Still should’ve gotten the spot over Jordan Hicks
No, but Harrison will be back. Giants are stacked with terrific young arms—a good problem to have.
Goku, I’m glad you’re not running the Giants.
Suuure. Go with the 6 ERA guy this spring who’s never proven he can pitch past the 4th inning
New to baseball? ST is a small sample, and pitchers pitch differently there.
Last season Hicks was dominant through 15 GS, with a 2.82 ERA. Then he reached the number of innings that he wasn’t used to. Even then, when the wheels kind of fell off, he still posted better numbers at season’s end, than Harrison.
Harrison has never shown the type of dominance that Hicks did early last season. He still needs to figure things out, and AAA is the place for him to do that.
Your comment hasn’t aged well. But I’m sure you’re OK being wrong about Hicks now.
Posey has talked about giving younger guys more time to develop in AAA. Roupp has such great stuff, add that to the fact that he’s about 3 years older than Birdsong, I’d give him the edge in the 5th starter role. If so, Birdsong will get called up. Just a matter of time.
At this point I’m going Birdsong as #5 with Roupp having more experience out of the bullpen. They both make the roster.
G-lo —
That would be my choice too, but even if he doesn’t get the #5 spot, he’ll make the team and be the long man as well as occasional starts. And there’s plenty room —unfortunately— for injuries throughout the season.
Not surprised. The progress in his development was a little disappointing last season even when he was healthy. Roupp looked much better last season, and Birdsong much better this spring.
I liked his peripherals coming up ! He will eventually put it together but I was also unimpressed with his debut last season
I agree, except that he made his debut in 2023, 7 GS. That’s part of why I was disappointed somewhat. Last season he seemed to regress from his promising 2023 season.
Yeah. Got that one wrong.
On a more positive note, the rotation depth is so different to this time last year. It was a mess. Cobb hurt, Snell late, Winn and Beck went down. I’m not sure how teams not named the Dodgers fare from 6-10, but Roupp or Birdsong, Harrison, Winn, Beck, Bivens seems solid. Black was in the rotation to start last year. Here’s hoping they can ride it.
I got it wrong as well. I thought Harrison would be the #5 guy. It’s a good problem to have with multiple rookies hungry to overtake him though. In the long run he takes over for Ray if forced off the roster all year. All good in my opinion.
Throw in Busters supposed old school going deeper into games philosophy, and it’s something to look forward too.
Yup. Work on getting some of the young guys stretched out this year in AAA. Most likely will need two more to take starting roles next season.
I think the Giants had to react to the great spring by both Birdsong and Roupp. They both pitched themselves onto the opening day roster. That said, I believe Harrison needs some ramp up time. He’ll be back soon. I’m curious to see Hicks with the added weight and how durable he’ll be in the rotation. If he isn’t pitching well they’ll need to add to the rotation. As of now they only have 1 lefthander. I was wondering a couple weeks ago that Harrison might be the odd man out.
Somewhere in SoCal in a deep dark nerd cave surrounded by computers Farhan is smirking
Somewhere in a mother’s basement you lurk desperately trying to find another way to make your screen name relevant.
At this point why would I change my screen name… or move out of my moms basement? Free rent, high speed internet, laundry service, free meals, and no nagging that I normally get at home with the wife and kids. If your mom is lucky enough to have a basement in California you are doing pretty well. How’s the rest home treating your mom?
My mom is 93 and doing well, thanks.
She does own her California home and has two basements counting the one in the detached garage. I’ll probably see the rest home before she does. Please stop taking advantage of your mother’s good fortune and man up. You should change your screen name because it’s no longer relevant. I think I’ve answered your questions, happy to help out.
FF: Please go play with your family. You’re wasting your time here anyway. You contribute nothing here. And there is no way you can be a real Giants fan. Do us all a favor and go mow your yard or something. Pretty please. Thanks
Now where is the fun in that?
Old said he’s happy to help. Fun!
Roupp and Birdsong are probably both making the roster. The move will be evident after a few rotations.Harrison needs innings to build up; this will give us cushion for injuries/meltdowns within the 25-man. I finally signed up for this after many years because of the Giant fans I see here…
And…I know Johnnie is not dead…I just always admired his tenacity and glove…and that he made jersey with “BOO” on the back of it…that’s moxie…
Keeping him in Triple-A for just a few months could push back his Super Two arbitration eligibility. This saves the Giants millions of dollars over the next few seasons while still keeping him long-term.
Feel like they should just run a hybrid 6-man rotation, with Webb being the only one who gets the ball every 5th game. JV is 42, Ray has made 8 starts since ‘23, Hicks couldn’t finish last year in the rotation, and the rest of them are unproven kids. Plus there’s some depth to mix into the rotation when needed. Seems like an easy call
I just threw your idea into ChatGPT and it has legs.
It has 6 legs and is widely known as an “Insect-Rotation”. It bugs most SP’s, though.
Verlander wants every fifth.
Pushing for the big 300.
I like it, and hope he holds up physically.