SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Carson Whisenhunt isn’t the only young starter who’s lighting up the Scottsdale Stadium radar gun.
Following a promising showing leading up to Cactus League play, right-hander Trevor McDonald continued to impress as the Giants beat the Athletics 6-2 on Monday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium. McDonald not only pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts — one swinging, one looking — but averaged 95.2 mph on his sinker and touched as high as 97.2 mph.
“It’s in the tank,” McDonald said. “If you look back a couple of years ago in the minor leagues, I was there. I’ve just been a lot more intentional about my sleep, my recovery, what I put into my body this offseason. I felt really good coming into camp, so I think that’s just all that showing on the field. … I feel good and I wouldn’t be surprised to be there again.”
Last season, McDonald had an average sinker velocity of 93.1 mph over 142 1/3 innings with Triple-A Sacramento. The 24-year-old refined his routine this offseason, prioritizing his sleep and diet. He put on some “healthy weight” and is up to 210 pounds after weighing in at 195 pounds last spring. McDonald tried the carnivore diet like right-hander Adrian Houser, but conceded that he’s “not as strict to it as he is.”
The Giants’ rotation is currently filled by Houser, Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Landen Roupp, and Tyler Mahle, but Vitello described San Francisco’s bullpen competition as being “wide open.” With few definitive locks in the ‘pen, one of San Francisco’s young starters should have a shot to win a spot on the Opening Day out of camp as a reliever.
McDonald had a 5.31 ERA with Triple-A Sacramento in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League and didn’t make his season debut with San Francisco until mid-September. Upon arriving, McDonald impressed during his brief time with the team, posting a 1.80 ERA (three earned runs, 15 innings) over three appearances.
“It’s something, coming into this spring, makes you hungry to get back up there,” McDonald said. “There’s definitely a boost of confidence and it was an encouraging end of the year.”
Whisenhunt, 25, showcased his own notable jump in velocity during last Thursday’s simulated game. The left-hander had an average fastball velocity of 92.6 mph during his brief time in San Francisco last season, but he sat in the 95-96 mph range and occasionally touched 97 mph last week.
Right-hander Blade Tidwell, 24, also made a strong impression during his first outing of Cactus League play, striking out three batters during his scoreless inning of work on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners.
While McDonald, Tidwell and Whisenhunt have all looked sharp, 24-year-old right-hander Hayden Birdsong stumbled in his Cactus League debut. Birdsong retired only one of the six batters he faced on Saturday, walking two batters, allowing three hits and giving up five runs (four on a grand slam).
Mahle throws live bullpen
Right-hander Tyler Mahle threw a live bullpen on a backfield at Scottsdale Stadium before Monday’s game against the Athletics.
Mahle, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Giants this offseason, faced six batters, threw 27 pitches and induced four whiffs. He struck out two batters — one swinging, one looking. The right-hander was set back a couple of days due to feeling under the weather.
It has yet to be determined whether Mahle will need another live bullpen before appearing in Cactus League games.
Honeywell signs minor-league deal
Brent Honeywell Jr., who won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, signed a minor-league contract with the Giants. The deal does not include an invitation to spring training.
Honeywell, who turns 31 in March, was non-tendered by the Dodgers following the ‘24 season. The right-hander has a career 4.10 ERA and 5.26 FIP over 94 1/3 innings.
Rodriguez makes cameo at second base
Catcher Jesus Rodriguez bounced around the diamond during his time in the New York Yankees’ system, and the Giants called on Rodriguez to provide some versatility on Monday by having him play a couple of innings at second base.
Along with catching, the 23-year-old Rodriguez has spent time at first base (57 games), second base (three games), third base (97 games) and left field (24 games) during his time in the minors. The Yankees’ farm system had several catching prospects during Rodriguez’s time in their system, and he often played around the diamond to get his bat in the lineup.
“We’re looking for any excuse possible or any reason possible to get Rodriguez (in the game),” Vitello said. “He’s a ballplayer. You should see his eyes light up when you talk to him about moving around or going to left field.”
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