Beede's rehab at Triple-A 'progressing nicely'
The Giants’ starting rotation has been the best in the Majors this year, and the staff could receive another boost when it welcomes another electric arm back into the fold in the near future.
Right-hander Tyler Beede, who is on the road back from Tommy John surgery, has made three rehab starts with Triple-A Sacramento, where he’s logged a 3.18 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Beede is still in the process of building his arm back up and won’t be eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until May 31, but the Giants have been encouraged by what they’ve seen from the 27-year-old thus far.
“Good, quality reports,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “The ball’s coming out good. I also have watched quite a bit of video. He looks healthy, looks strong, and he's progressing nicely.”
Beede, the Giants’ 2014 first-round Draft pick, was viewed as the front-runner to be the club’s fifth starter last spring, but he hit a major setback after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which led to season-ending surgery on March 20, 2020.
Beede has posted a 5.27 ERA in 26 career appearances in the Majors, but he seemed poised for a breakthrough year last spring. Before departing his second Cactus League start with elbow tightness, he had flashed his tantalizing potential by hitting 98 mph with his fastball. Kapler said the Giants remain confident that Beede has all the tools to develop into a quality big league starter now that he’s close to full strength again.
“He was electric at the point at which he got hurt last year,” Kapler said. “The ball was coming out really good, and the breaking balls were sharp. He was in the zone, so we were feeling really optimistic about him. He's also had a really good recovery and rehab. Oftentimes, when guys come back from Tommy John surgery, they come back with similar stuff. We've seen that with some pretty powerful right-handed pitchers around the game, so we remain optimistic.”
Right-handed relief has been a major hole for the Giants this year, but Kapler said he doesn’t view Beede as a candidate to help fill that void right now. While San Francisco doesn’t have a vacancy in its starting rotation at the moment, Kapler said the club doesn’t plan to ask Beede to pitch out of the bullpen once he’s eligible to return.
“We're envisioning Tyler coming back as a starter,” Kapler said. “Obviously, things can change, but that's the game plan right now as we're building him up to start games for us.”
It remains to be seen whether Beede will join the Giants or remain with Sacramento once his stint on the 60-day IL is up, but he should give the club much-needed rotation depth, particularly following the injury to Aaron Sanchez, who is sidelined with a right biceps tightness.
Kapler said Sanchez visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Monday and received promising news. If all goes well, the Giants are hoping Sanchez will be able to resume playing catch in three to six days.
Fashion statement
Right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers has baffled hitters with his unique submarine delivery since debuting with the Giants in 2019, but he’s added another element of deception to his game this season.
Rogers, 30, has been channeling the crossbay A’s and wearing white cleats, which he said he’s been sporting for strategic reasons.
“A few years ago, Austin Slater brought it up because my release point is down by my shoes, so I should wear white cleats,” Rogers explained. “White ball, white cleats down there in that area or vicinity. Not only does it look good, but hopefully it's helping a little bit, too.”
The look seems to be working for Rogers, who has logged a sparkling 0.73 ERA over a Major League-high 24 appearances this year.
"I've been able to get ahead, which is big for me,” Rogers said. “The times I'm not getting ahead, I seem to be right back in the count, so that's been good. This month I've found some double-play balls, which has been good for me as well. With the defense we've been playing this year, if I could put the pressure on the hitters to put the ball in play and not give away free bases and let this defense work, it turns out it'll be fun to watch."
Hildenberger claimed
The Giants claimed right-hander Trevor Hildenberger off waivers from the Mets on Tuesday and optioned the Bay Area native to Sacramento. To clear a spot for Hildenberger on the 40-man roster, San Francisco transferred infielder Tommy La Stella (left hamstring strain) to the 60-day IL. La Stella has been out since May 2 and will not be eligible to return until the first week of July.
Hildenberger, a product of Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif., and Cal, has a 5.52 ERA in 134 career appearances with the Twins and Mets. He could draw a look with the Giants soon, as the club has been searching for more reliable right-handed relievers to help take some of the load off Rogers.
Giants announce changes to Oracle Park entry requirements
The Giants are making it a bit easier for fans to come out to the ballpark.
Beginning with Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers, fans seated in socially distanced sections will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination for entry into Oracle Park. Fans sitting in fully vaccinated sections will still be required to show proof that they have completed their full vaccination regimen.
Public tickets will go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. PT for the upcoming home series against the Angels (May 31-June 1), Cubs (June 3-6), D-backs (June 14-17) and Phillies (June 18-20).
Injury updates
• Brandon Belt (left side tightness) didn’t start for the third consecutive game on Tuesday, but Kapler said the 33-year-old veteran is improving and could be available off the bench against the Reds.
• Logan Webb departed his start against the Reds on Monday after six innings with some right shoulder soreness, but Kapler said the Giants expect the 24-year-old to make his next scheduled start against the Dodgers this weekend.