SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Left-hander Erik Miller made his first look of Cactus League play on Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium after coping with a pair of setbacks, tossing a scoreless inning and hanging out three batters because the Giants beat the Royals, 7-3. His spot on the Opening Day roster has lengthy been safe. The Giants are nonetheless making an attempt to find out whether or not he’ll be the one lefty of their bullpen come Opening Day.
San Francisco entered spring coaching with Miller as the one left-handed reliever on their 40-man roster. Midway via Cactus League video games, that is still the case. Final week, the Giants re-assigned left-handed non-roster invitees Raymond Burgos, Miguel Del Pozo and Ethan Small to minor-league camp, leaving Joey Lucchesi, Enny Romero, Antonio Jimenez and Helcris Olivarez because the remaining left-handed relievers in camp.
“It’s definitely interesting,” Miller stated earlier this spring. “Those are obviously decisions that are way above my pay grade. … Obviously, it’s not conventional. That’s the obvious thing. When you play teams that have a lot of (left-handed hitters), it’s usually beneficial to have more than one. I can only throw so many games in a row. It’s definitely open and I think it would probably help. We have a lot of lefties here who are super talented.”
Supervisor Bob Melvin stated issues are “up in the air” when requested if the Giants are leaning in direction of having two left-handers of their bullpen. Melvin added that having two lefties within the ‘pen is “ideal,” especially if one can throw multiple innings. Melvin joked earlier this spring that his main criteria when looking at the different lefties is “outs.”
“I don’t suppose at this time limit, anyone has stood out but,” Melvin stated on Friday earlier than the Giants’ recreation in opposition to the Reds was rained out.
Of the 4 left-handed non-roster invitees remaining, Lucchesi and Romero are the one two with major-league expertise. And of these two, Lucchesi has a bonus in that he pitched within the majors final 12 months whereas Romero’s final look within the massive leagues was in 2018. So far as free brokers go, the checklist of accessible left-handers contains former Big Drew Smyly and Brooks Raley.
Lucchesi, 31, had been a starter for his whole skilled profession previous to final season however transformed from beginning to relieving with the New York Mets’ Triple-A affiliate final August. The Newark native loved success (3.16 ERA, 25 2/3 innings) as he realized the nuances of the function and is totally embracing the brand new chapter of his profession.
“The Giants hit me up and said, ‘Hey, we have a lot of starters in house, so your best opportunity to make the team at camp would probably be as a reliever,’ ” stated Lucchesi, who has thrown 2 2/3 scoreless innings this spring. “They don’t have too many lefties with experience. Me, my agents and my family talked about it and thought I could have a revival in my career. I’m still adjusting to it, but I feel like I’m doing well and I enjoy it.”
Romero, 34, has been a journeyman’s journeyman over the past seven years. Since he final touched a giant league mound on July 15, 2018, Romero has suited up for the Chunichi Dragons (NPB, 2019), Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), Chiba Lotte Marines (NPB, 2021-22), SSG Landers (KBO, 2023) and Toros de Tijuana (2024). That doesn’t embrace his time within the Dominican Winter League, both, the place he was the reigning Pitcher of the Yr for Aguilas Cibaenas. The left-hander has a 5.40 ERA this spring however allowed one earned run throughout 4 innings with 5 strikeouts in his first three outings.
“I’m very happy for the opportunity,” Romero stated via staff interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I’m a believer that God puts you in the right place.”
The following two weeks of video games — and the looming subsequent spherical of cuts — will decide whether or not Lucchesi, Romero, Jimenez or Olivarez can pitch their method onto the Opening Day roster. On the minimal, the Giants can have Miller, who was completely satisfied to lastly pitch in an actual recreation after coping with sickness and irritation in his center finger.
A lot of the Giants’ pitchers have appeared in at the very least three video games at this level, and Miller admitted to feeling “a bit of anxiety” on account of being behind different pitchers. Miller was scheduled to pitch on Friday in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark, however the recreation was canceled on account of rain.
“I drove over there and I got in even earlier than those guys,” Miller stated. “I was in the outfield playing catch and someone walked out and said, ‘Yeah, we’re not playing.’ I was like, ‘That’s sweet.’ I got (my first game) out of the way today, but it was like, ‘Dude, I can’t get on the mound no matter what it is.’”
Adames, Chapman showcase defensive prowess
On paper, third baseman Matt Chapman and shortstop Willy Adames characterize the most effective left sides to an infield in baseball. On Saturday, they flashed their collective potential on either side of the ball in a 7-3 win over Kansas Metropolis.
Within the first inning, Chapman fielded a Nelson Velázquez chopper on the barehand then fired to first base for the out, the most recent instance of him making a tough play look routine. The next inning, the Royals’ John Rave smoked a grounder that bounced off Keaton Winn’s foot and ricocheted into the air. Shortstop Willy Adames camped himself underneath the ball, then rapidly fired to first base as soon as it landed for the out.
Together with the protection, Chapman hit an opposite-field house run on a fly ball that stored on carrying with the assistance of the dry Arizona air, his fourth homer of Cactus League play and his third in his final two video games. In seven video games, Chapman is hitting .533/.650/1.333 with as many walks as strikeouts.
“We’re going to be able to try to cover the whole left side, and if I’m taking the six-hole, he’s able to be up the middle,” Chapman stated. “We’re just trying to spread it out as much as we can and get used to playing with each other.”
Price noting
Mike Yastrzemski hit his third house run of the spring, a no-doubter to proper discipline that landed on the roof of the Charro Lodge. Yastrzemski has a 1.006 OPS via eight video games. David Villar hit his first homer of the spring as effectively.
Proper-handed Joel Peguero tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout and touched 102 mph. The reliever has tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings this spring with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
Initially Printed: March 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM PST
