San Francisco Giants center fielder Will Brennan (7) rounds third base against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa AZ on Sun Mar 8, 2026 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

MESA–Over the last year, Buster Posey has greatly improved the Giants’ farm system, and those improvements, particularly Jesus Rodriguez, shined Sunday in the Giants’ 9-5 win over the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa.

On July 30 of last year, the Giants traded closer Camilo Doval to the Yankees. In return, they got a young catcher and third-baseman in Jesus Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a contact hitter, who does not strike out often, and can hit over .300.

Since the start of camp, Daniel Susac has been the favorite to be the backup catcher to Patrick Bailey. Until yesterday, Rodriguez had been off to a rough start, and went 2-for-12 in his first eight games.

Saturday—in the Giants’ other split-squad game, which was against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick—Rodriguez got to start. The young catcher took full advantage of it, and showed just what he can do. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

Tony Vitello gave Rodriguez another start Sunday, this time as the designated hitter. Rodriguez’s afternoon did not get off to the greatest start. He flew out to right-center field in his first at-bat in the top of the first inning. He then drew a walk off Cubs’ left-hander Luke Little to lead off the top of the fourth, but was picked off at first base on what was a questionable move by Little.

Rodriguez stepped up against Connor Schultz in the top of the sixth, following a lead-off home run by Grant McCray. Rodriguez hit a home run of his own to left-center field. Those two home runs were part of a four-run top of the sixth for the Giants, which made the difference today. Infielder Buddy Kennedy hit a home run as well in the sixth. His was a two-run shot to left.

Rodriguez capped off his afternoon with a line-drive base-hit to center with two outs in the top of the seventh. All in all, it was a 2-for-3 afternoon for Rodriguez, with an RBI, and a walk.

It is safe to say that Rodriguez will get some more playing time as camp winds down over the next two weeks. Daniel Susac, Rodriguez’s main competition for the backup catcher’s role, went 1-for-3, and upped his average to .350. Rodriguez is 7-for-19 overall this spring, and is hitting .368. This could turn out to be a big decision for Vitello.

Landen Roupp solid in second spring start:

Landen Roupp, who made 22 starts for the Giants last season, made his second start of the spring today.

Roupp struck out four over three shutout innings in his first start back on Feb. 24 against the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe. Sunday, he made his first appearance in nearly two weeks.

Roupp got off to a rough start in the bottom of first. Michael Busch nearly had extra bases to lead off the inning, but center-fielder Will Brennan made a spectacular sliding catch at the track in left-center with his back completely to the infield. Nico Heorner then fisted a double down the left field line.

Roupp retired the next two, and then walked Dansby Swanson. Former Giant Michael Conforto came up, and grounded a base-hit up the middle to knock in Heorner.

Roupp then threw 1-2-3 innings in the second and third to wrap up what was a solid afternoon. Roupp went three innings, and gave up a run on two hits. He walked one, and struck out 2.

Blade Tidwell rocked in third appearance of camp:

Blade Tidwell, who came along with Drew Gilbert in the Tyler Rogers deal with the Mets last July, came in for his third outing of the spring in the bottom of the fourth.

Tidwell, once a starter, is now being looked at as a reliever. Tidwell threw a shutout inning in the Giants’ cactus league opener against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria on Feb. 21. He then gave up two runs over two innings against the Colorado Rockies five days later in Scottsdale, on Feb. 26.

Sunday was a day to completely forget for Tidwell. Like Roupp, Tidwell was coming off significant rest, as he had not pitched in 11 days. Perhaps that contributed to his nightmare outing Sunday.

The Cubs manufactured a run against Tidwell in the bottom of the fourth, and then put up a three spot on him in the bottom of the fifth. After Cubs’ catcher Moises Ballesteros knocked in a pair with a base-hit with two outs, Tidwell was pulled.

Tidwell gave up four runs and five hits over an inning and two thirds. He walked two, and struck out four.

First time at Sloan Park:

Sunday, I finally got to see Sloan Park for the first time.

It opened in 2014, and has the exact same dimensions as Wrigley Field, but without the bricks and ivey on the walls. Cubs’ fans have packed this place, and have made it perhaps the top destination in the Cactus League since.

There was a reason this park was on my bucket list. Beyond right field, you have a beautiful view of the mountains east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Beyond left field, behind the grass where fans sit, is a two-story building, which is mostly painted in the same red color of the bricks that make up Wrigley Field’s outfield wall. 

The first story consists of concession stands and a Cubs team shop. The second is a rooftop club, featuring two bars, where fans can sit and take in the game.

For any fan coming to Arizona for Spring Training, Sloan Park is a must-visit.

Other notes:

• With their win today, the Giants are now 13-2 on the spring. They are two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the best record in Spring Training

• Outfielder Luis Matos, who is out of options, has been off to a torrid start this spring. 

Matos came into yesterday’s game hitting .450. However, he took 0-for-2s, both yesterday against the Rangers, and today. He was also hit by a pitch his first time up today in the top of the second.

• After a 3-for-3 game against the Rangers yesterday, outfielder Jerar Encarnacion went 2-for-4 today to get his average up to .300.

• Reliever Keaton Winn pitched 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh, and struck out two.

• As for other prospects, infielder Parks Harber went 1-for-2, and put the Giants on the board with a two-run home run to right-center in the top of the fifth.