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SAN FRANCISCO – Nonetheless lacking a number of key items to their beginning rotation, the Giants plan to name up rookie Hayden Birdsong to make his MLB debut on Wednesday.
Supervisor Bob Melvin made the announcement previous to Tuesday’s sport towards the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park and mentioned that the workforce has excessive expectations for the 22-year-old right-hander.
“We’re enthusiastic about it,” Melvin mentioned. “In my view, he’s going to have an extended big-league profession. It’s most likely coming, the beginning of it, a little bit ahead of we anticipated due to the necessity and possibly pitching one of the best down there. I feel that was why the choice was made.”
The Giants haven’t had a totally wholesome rotation for a lot of the season. Reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell and newcomer Robbie Ray, together with holdovers Alex Cobb and Keaton Winn, have been sidelined at numerous occasions with quite a lot of accidents.
Birdsong, a sixth-round choose in 2022, is without doubt one of the Giants’ prime pitching prospects. He started the season in Double-A Richmond the place he went 4-2 with a 2.05 ERA. With an expansive repertoire of pitches, Birdsong notched 61 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings.
He was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento on June 15 and continued to impress, recording 14 strikeouts in 9 innings over two begins. Birdsong threw 91 pitches in his final begin with the River Cats, so he has the flexibility to go deep into video games.
“The 2 begins that he’s had with Triple-A have been good,” Melvin mentioned. “He can throw upwards of what you’ll suppose a starter would throws so far as pitches go. Look, there’s some danger with a man that was simply in Triple-A. He’s a younger child, he’s very gifted.”
Birdsong hung out with the Giants throughout spring coaching, so Melvin and the workers already have been aware of him earlier than watching his work within the minors.
“You watch his bullpens, it’s true starter stuff and it’s expertise,” Melvin mentioned. “He’s younger however it’s fairly thrilling to suppose that he’s going to get an opportunity to start out, particularly right here at residence.”
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