Pitchers and Catchers Report Today
By Joe Ritzo
San Francisco Giants pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale today signifying the official start of spring training. Here is part 2 of our spring training preview focusing on the former San Jose pitchers in big league camp:
Once again, the expectation is that four out of the five members of the starting rotation will be filled by former San Jose hurlers: Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong. Additionally, former SJ reliever Sergio Romo will look to build on a 2013 All-Star season that saw the right-hander collect a career-high 38 saves. After that, there are two other former San Jose pitchers that will enter spring training with realistic hopes of making the opening day roster.
Jake Dunning and Heath Hembree both made their major league debuts last season and are now hoping to break camp with the big club for the first time in their careers. Dunning received far more time in the major leagues among the two and more than held his own compiling a solid 2.84 ERA over 29 relief appearances (25 1/3 IP). A closer while in San Jose, Dunning would likely fill one of the middle relief roles if he makes the team coming out of camp.
Meanwhile, Hembree also was an excellent closer while in the California League and has continued to finish games throughout his professional career. Last year in Triple-A Fresno, the right-hander set a team record with 31 saves and then impressed in San Francisco after a September call-up. In nine games with the major league team late last year, Hembree worked a total of 7 2/3 scoreless innings yielding just four hits with 12 strikeouts. Hembree, now 25 years old, is still regarded as the top relief pitcher prospect in the system. His performance in spring training games could dictate whether he gets an extended look out of the San Francisco bullpen to open the year, likely in middle relief, or is sent back to Fresno to close games.
Other former San Jose relievers in big league camp this spring include non-roster invitees Derek Law, Dan Runzler and Jose Casilla. Law enjoyed a breakout 2013 campaign dominating as San Jose’s closer during the second half before a stellar effort in the Arizona Fall League. Despite his rising prospect status, Law has yet to pitch above the Class-A Advanced level (although he did face advanced hitters in the AFL), so it’s unlikely that he’s competing for a San Francisco bullpen spot this spring. However, a strong effort in front of the big league coaching staff could not only result in an initial assignment to Fresno (instead of Richmond), but help his cause for a big league call-up later in the year.
Runzler is looking to bounce back in 2014 after struggling throughout much of last year in the Fresno bullpen. The hard-throwing left-hander made 72 big league appearances over the 2010 and 2011 seasons, but missed a substantial portion of 2012 due to injury. Runzler followed that with a difficult 2013 in Fresno posting a 5.68 ERA with a whopping 37 walks in just 52 1/3 innings. No longer on the 40-man roster, Runzler has a lot to prove this year and it all starts this spring as he looks to climb back up the reliever depth chart.
Casilla bounced back nicely last season after missing most of 2011 and all of 2012 due to Tommy John Surgery. A key member of last year’s San Jose bullpen, Casilla logged a 3.22 ERA and made 43 appearances remaining healthy for the duration of the season. His stay major league spring training will probably be brief before heading to minor league camp with the hopes of making the Double-A Richmond roster.
Outside of the established big leaguers, the former San Jose starting pitcher who should receive the most time on the mound in big league spring games this year is Edwin Escobar. Escobar shot up the prospect charts in 2013 after a spectacular year with San Jose and Richmond. The left-hander combined for a 2.80 ERA in 24 starts between the two teams with 146 strikeouts compared to just 30 walks in 128 2/3 innings. A member of the 40-man roster, Escobar may get a chance to start a few games this spring and a positive impression could not only result in an opening assignment to Fresno, but a big league call-up later in the season.
Fellow 2013 San Jose starters Kyle Crick, Clayton Blackburn and Ty Blach are also in big league camp this spring. The top prospect trio were extended non-roster invitations and may get a handful of appearances in early spring games before likely heading to minor league camp. Expect all three to open the 2014 season in the Richmond starting rotation.
Minor league veterans Chris Heston and Mitch Lively could get a more extended look this spring as they each look to position themselves for a call-up down the road in 2014. Heston, a non-roster invitee, was the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year with Richmond in 2012, but struggled mightily in Triple-A last season. In 19 starts with Fresno, the right-hander possessed a high 5.80 ERA with an opponents batting average over .300. Meanwhile, after pitching exclusively as a reliever throughout his career, Lively became a starter last season and led Fresno in innings (124) while compiling a 4.72 ERA. He followed that up by winning the Venezuelan Winter League Pitcher of the Year award last month. Both Heston and Lively are candidates to return to Fresno’s rotation this season and strong performances there could add valuable starting pitching depth to the organization.
Finally, Kendry Flores, a likely member of the 2014 San Jose starting rotation, will participate in his first big league camp this spring. Last year in Augusta (Class-A), Flores dazzled fashioning a 2.73 ERA and a 137-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 starts. His reward was inclusion on the 40-man roster and a taste of major league spring training. In all likelihood, Flores will be one of the first to return to minor league camp with an assignment to San Jose possibly to follow.
The San Francisco Giants will open camp with 37 pitchers on their roster.
Spring Training Preview Part 1: A look at the former San Jose hitters in big league camp
San Francisco’s first exhibition game is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26 against the Oakland Athletics in Scottsdale. The 33-game Cactus League schedule concludes on Saturday, March 29 before the regular season opener on Monday, March 31 in Arizona. San Jose’s season is set to begin on Thursday, April 3 at Rancho Cucamonga.
