Category: San Francisco Giants

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Warriors’ report is not good

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (right) suffered an injury on this play going up against the Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) at the America Airlines Arena at Dallas Mon Mar 23, 2026 (AP News photo)

The Warriors’ report is not good

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Over the last few years, the area around Chase Center in San Francisco has been a party atmosphere, with the Warriors competing every season, but things have changed, and the Bandwagon of Warriors fans is not what it used to be; they are deserting in droves.

The Warriors played at the Oakland Arena from 1971 to 2019; they won the NBA title in 1975, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Then they moved to the brand-new, spectacular Chase Center in San Francisco for the 2019-20 season and won the 2022 NBA title, the only one since moving to San Francisco.

This season, the team has faced many setbacks. Obviously, their superstar Stephen Curry is the one who has the Warriors worried. Curry will be evaluated before the game at Chase Center this Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. After Curry’s practice, the Warriors have to make a decision, and with only ten (10) games left during the regular season, the team and their fans are praying he can return because without Curry, they have little chance.

As of March 21, 2026, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is recovering from a right knee injury diagnosed as runner’s knee combined with a bone bruise. His last game was on January 30, 2026.

The team just lost Guard Moses Moody for the remainder of the season, suffering from a torn left patellar tendon during the recent overtime victory over the Mavericks.

 In conclusion, the Golden State Warriors must win the next three games to have a shot at ‘Eight in the West’.

While playing in the Oakland Area, the Warriors had great fans, extremely loyal, who, especially after their 1975-76 NBA title season, were the NBA team from Northern California, years before the Sacramento Kings were born.

During the 1990s, when I was their Spanish radio play by play announcer for all games, home and away, traveling with the team, by the way, the only Spanish play-by-play announcer they ever hired in their history, these are the players I remember, especially the “Run TMC Trio”, Mullin, Hardaway, Richmond and others under coach Don Nelson. However, my favorite overall player during those years in the NBA was Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing a few times

Quote: “Talent wins championships, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships’  -Michael Jordan.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Rafael Devers

Giants rout Sultanes de Monterrey 10-2 in penultimate preseason tuneup

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: SF Bay News Lab

By Vince Cestone

The San Francisco Giants defeated the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League 10-2 on Monday night in their second-to-last spring training game at Oracle Park.

Even though the Giants were playing a non-major league team, it’s important for them to play good baseball–and that they did.

The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning with three runs against Sultanes starting pitcher Stephen Tarpley. Tarpley was most-recently in the Mets organization in 2021. Giants first baseman Casey Schmitt, who went 2-for-3 on Monday night, started the inning with a single. After catcher Patrick Bailey hit a ground ball base hit in between first and second, Schmitt advanced to third.

Then came up roster hopeful Jared Oliva, who came into the game hitting .375 for the spring. Oliva executed a an RBI bunt single to give the Giants their first run. The Giants scored after the very next batter Luis Arraez grounded into a fielder’s choice, but a throwing error by Sultanes shortstop Coco Montes allowed the second run to come in. The Giants got their third run later in the inning after right fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit a ground ball double just inside first.

The Giants tacked on another run in the fifth inning with the help of another throwing error by Montes off the bat of Matt Chapman.

The Sultanes scored their only two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single by designated hitter Ramiro Pena and another RBI single by Josh Lester.

Then, the Giants played home run derby. Shortstop Willy Adames led off the sixth with a home run off of Sultanes pitcher Jake Higginbotham. But an encouraging sign came off the bat of Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge, who launched a booming, opposite-field three-run homer to make the score 8-2 in the eighth inning. Eldridge had recently been sent down to the minor leagues and will start the season in Triple-A Sacramento. Tyler Fitzgerald followed with a two-run home run two batters later.

On the pitching side, nine Giants pitchers threw one inning each. All San Francisco pitchers threw scoreless innings, except for Carson Seymour, who gave up two runs and four hits in his inning of work. Spencer Bivens, who started the game, Tristan Beck, and Marques Johnson each had two strikeouts and no walks in their innings. Caleb Killian, who is opening eyes in spring training, pitched a perfect fifth inning. In 9 1/3 innings pitched in spring training, Killian came into the game with a 0.96 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

Up next, the Giants will conclude their Cactus League schedule on Tuesday night against the Sultanes once again. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. The Giants will open the regular season on Wednesday night against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park. Game time will be 5:05 p.m.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Now playing for the Toros de Tijuana, Wilmer Flores

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Francisco Giant Wilmer Flores and the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez at Oracle Park in San Francisco after being honored by the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Now playing for the Toros de Tijuana, Wilmer Flores

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Do not expect to see Wilmer Flores in a Giants uniform this Wednesday at Oracle Park, as the Giants open the 2026 season against the New York Yankees.

Wilmer Flores played for 13 years in the Major Leagues, the last five with the San Francisco Giants, but a series of changes this offseason, as the Giants acquired Luis Arraez, and also pivoted toward younger players, like Bruce Eldridge, plus veteran Rafael Devers playing every day in the infield, limited the options for Flores.

Although, as of today, the contract of Flores with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League has not been made available, they tend to be much lower than those in the US Major Leagues. Wilmer Flores with the Giants 2023 to 2025, signed a 3-year $16.5 million extension ($6.5 in 2023, $6.5 in 2024, and $3.5 million player option for 2025.

The San Francisco Giants did not retain the Venezuelan fan-favorite infielder Wilmer Flores. Last season, Flores hit for .241 with 16 home runs and 71 runs batted in. Because he is a proven major league talent, the potential is for a large salary, but not close to these major league contracts.

Where Flores will play. La Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (The Mexican Baseball League) comprises 20 teams, divided into 10 in the North Zone and 10 in the South Zone. playing a total of 93 games, the season begins in April and ends in September, the championship is named “La Serie del Rey” (The King’s Series), which consists of the best of 7 games. If compared to the US Professional Baseball Leagues, the Liga Mexicana is at a US Triple-A level.

On September 16, 2022, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame presented Wilmer Flores with the José Uribe Award. The award honored character and sportsmanship, with a ceremony held at Oracle Park prior to the Giants game.I had the honor to present to him on behalf of the HHBM.

Liga Mexicana de Béisbol titles. Top two winners:

Diablos Rojos de México 18 titles—-Tigres de Quintana Roo (12)— Among other teams,—The Toros de Tijuana 2 Titles—

Quote: If you’re not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he’ll be ready to take your job.” — Brooks Robinson (The ultimate minor league grind quote

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap:Eldridge shines in River Cats’ 2-1 win over Giants

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Maui Ahuna (17) sends the ball flying agianst the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park in West Sacarmento in Spring Training exhibition game on Sun Mar 22, 2026 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–Bryce Eldridge may not have made the Giants’ opening day roster, but he gave the Giants and their fans a taste of what is to come when he finally gets back to the big leagues, as he went 2-for-3 with a home run in the River Cats’ 2-1 win over the Giants in what was the fifth exhibition game played between the Giants and River Cats here at Sutter Health Park.

The Giants first played the River Cats in 2016, and beat them 8-4. The River Cats won the next two matchups in 2018 and 2024, and the Giants evened things up with a win last season.

The two teams have alternated between being the home and road teams in past matchup, and tonight, the River Cats were the home team in their park. Though, the River Cats sat in the visiting first base dugout.

This was a game that honestly felt like a River Cats’ intrasquad game, as many of the hitters in the Giants’ starting lineup tonight will likely be suiting up for the River Cats this season. As a result, the game was evenly matched.

Tyler Mahle made the Giants for the Giants, and took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth inning. That was when Bryce Eldridge put the River Cats on the board with a towering home run to right-center field. Mahle ended up going five innings in his final exhibition tuneup, allowing just one run and one hit.

You could even say the River Cats had the advantage, as the Giants’ squad tonight consisted of guys in double and single-a. However, the major leaguers took the ball on the pitching side. In addition to Mahle, we saw other major leaguers, such as JT Brubaker and Keaton Winn, pitch scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh.

The Giants manufactured a run to tie the game in the top of the eighth. Nate Furman, also recently cut by the Giants, put the River Cats back ahead with a home run to right in the bottom of the eighth.

The Giants—or to be honest, the orange and black side of the River Cats’ squad tonight with all of the single and double-a guys in—were unable to come through in the top of the ninth, and the River Cats won 2-1.

That means the River Cats now lead the overall series 3-2.

Now that the two teams have played each other three years in a row now, perhaps this will continue next year. Though, with the fact that the Giants could have a later start to next season thanks to the likely-impending lockout, perhaps we will not see this again until 2028.

As for the Giants, they are going to wrap up their exhibition slate in a quite-exciting way, as the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League will come to Oracle Park for a pair of exhibition games, tomorrow and Tuesday. Both games will start at 6:45 p.m.

Oracle Park

SLIDESHOW: Food, mariachi, Chick-fil-A and more: What’s new at Oracle Park in 2026

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Vince Cestone

Slideshow is at the bottom of the article (photos by the author Vince Cestone)

2026 isn’t just a new season on the field for the San Francisco Giants, but fans also get to try some new things at Oracle Park this season.

From Lucky Fries, to Chick-fil-A signage on the “fowl” poles, and to even an in-house mariachi band, the Oracle Park faithful have plenty of things to look forward to in 2026.

Among the highlights is an in-house mariachi band that will play at Oracle Park during all Saturday home games. The Giants will also wear a new Gigantes jersey on the field, which honors the Latino community, the team said. Local talent performing on these Saturday home games include Mariachi San Francisco, La Explosiva Sonora MX, and Comando Único. DJ collective Sazón Libre, who is based in the Mission District, will provide the music during the Fiesta Gigante Saturdays.

On the food side, the Giants are debuting Lucky Fries, a Birria Loaded Grilled Cheese sandwich, a new carvery, a dessert chimichanga, and two new hot dogs, among other items. Sports Radio Service’s Marko Ukalovic’s favorite was the Lucky Fries. Giants writer Vince Cestone agrees. In the slideshow below, you can see all the ingredients of each food item. The Giants even are debuting a new wine club.

Another noticeable change are both the left and right field “fowl” poles. Chick-fil-A has vertical signage in classic Chick-fil-A style on the two foul poles. Both foul poles read, “Chikin iz fare.”

The Giants will open the 2026 season on March 25 against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park.

Here’s a slide show of some of the new happenings at Oracle Park this season:

  • Giants in-house mariachi band
  • Giants in-house mariachi band
  • Giants in-house mariachi band
  • Birria loaded quesadilla
  • Birria loaded grilled cheese sandwich
  • Birria loaded grilled cheese sandwich
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Giants wine club
  • Peruchín Sandwich
  • Peruchín Sandwich
  • Giants wine club
  • Lucky Fries
  • Lucky Fries
  • Lucky Fries
  • Assortment of Oracle Park desserts
  • Dessert chimichanga
  • Assortment of Giants desserts
  • Assortment of Giants desserts
  • Assortment of Giants desserts
  • Orange and Black Hot Dog
  • Char Siu Dog
  • Char Siu Dog
  • Char Siu Dog
  • 999 package
  • Giants 2026 souvenir cups
  • Assortment of Giants food items
  • Hello Kitty palm palm
  • New Chic-Fil-A signage on the left field foul pole.
  • New Chic-Fil-A signage on the right field foul pole.
  • New Chic-Fil-A signage on the right field foul pole.
  • Oracle Park
    Oracle Park on March 18, 2026
  • Oracle Park on March 18, 2026

Giants report: Checking in on roster hopefuls

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo: San Francisco Giants’ Bryce Eldridge smiles as he celebrates his run scored against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning of a spring training baseball game on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Vince Cestone

The San Francisco Giants will head north at the end of the week, and a few roster hopefuls are still vying for a spot on the 26-man roster.

The Giants will open the season at Oracle Park against the New York Yankees on March 25. Here are a few players hoping to be on the roster when the Giants break camp:

Bryce Eldridge: Although he is hitting only .250 this spring, Eldridge has been doing damage at the plate. In 36 at-bats, he has an impressive .913 OPS and .413 on-base percentage. He has one home run, four doubles, a triple, and nine walks. But of course, the one big issue for Eldrige has always been the strikeouts.

He’s struck out 16 times in 36 plate appearances, including a disappointing ninth-inning punchout on Saturday with a runner at third and one out against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants were down by one run and needed just a sacrifice fly to tie the game, but Eldridge couldn’t deliver. He’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts if he wants to make the team and stay with the club.

The good news is he did walk nine times this spring. He’s also looking pretty good defensively at first base, thanks to the help of infield coach Ron Washington.

Jerar Encarnación: As of late, Encarnación is making a good case for himself to make the team. On Sunday, Encarnación hit a long home run against the Milwaukee Brewers to give the Giants a 3-0 lead, fueling a six-run, second-inning rally. The ball nearly left Scottsdale Stadium.

In 43 at-bats this spring, Encarnación is hitting .302, with two home runs and nine RBIs. He’s only struck out eight times in 43 at-bats, which is an encouraging sign. If he continues his late-spring surge, Encarnación could be a solid DH option off the bench against lefties.

Victor Bericoto: In spring training, there’s always seems to be a surprise player who you didn’t expect to make noise, and Bericoto fits exactly into that mold. Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2018, Bericoto is hitting .441, with two home runs and 12 RBIs. He has an impressive .444 on-base percentage. His OPS for the spring is an impressive 1.120. While he’s probably destined for Triple-A Sacramento next week, he can perhaps force the issue if he continues his strong play.

Blake Tidwell: Tidwell was looking great at the start of the spring. He was blowing hitters away with his high 90s fastball and looked like he may make the team to help the Giants’ bullpen, which is one of the biggest question marks this season. But as the case with any raw, unproven pitcher, those hopes took a dash. In 5 2/3 innings this spring, he’s given up seven earned runs, eight hits, and five walks. He has struck out 12 batters. His worst outing came on March 8 against the Chicago Cubs, where he gave up four runs in 1 1/3 innings. He walked two but struck out four. He may need a bit more seasoning in Triple-A before joining the big club perhaps later this year.

Matt Gage: Originally drafted by the Giants in 2014, Gage is back this year for his second stint with San Francisco. The Giants signed Gage to minor-league contract last year. In 2025, Gage had a 3.19 ERA in 31 innings pitched for both the Detroit Tigers and Giants. But he had an unimpressive 1.52 WHIP last year.

This spring, the lefty is doing well, which gives him a great shot to make the team. In 5 1/3 innings pitched, Gage has a 3.38 ERA, seven strikeouts, and an impressive 0.56 WHIP. Opponents are only hitting .158 against him this spring. Aside from any major setbacks, there’s a strong chance that Gage is on the Opening Day roster against the Yankees next week.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Roupp settles down after rough first inning in 6-1 loss to Reds, Birdsong hopes to only miss a few weeks

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco pitcher Landen Roupp had the starting duties against the Cincinnati Reds at Scottsdale Stadium on Fri Mar 13, 2026 in Cactus League action (San Francisco Giants image)

By Stephen Ruderman

SCOTTSDALE AZ–Landen Roupp was able to settle down after a tough first inning for a solid start, but the Giants still came up short in a 6-1 loss to the Reds at Scottsdale Stadium.

Landen Roupp is competing for a spot in the Giants’ rotation, and he took the ball against the Reds for a late-afternoon affair on a warm afternoon here in Scottsdale. The Reds got to Roupp for a pair of runs on a base-hit by JJ Bleday in the top of the first inning.

Fortunately, Roupp was able to settle down and throw a pair of scoreless innings in the second and third. Roupp gave up four hits. He walked three, and struck out four.

Erik Miller struck out the side in a scoreless top of the fourth. Blade Tidwell, who is competing for a spot on the roster, gave up a run in the top of the fifth. Tidwell, like Miller, struck out the side. Nick Margevicius pitched the final four innings, giving up three runs, two of them earned.

On the offensive side, Jerar Encarnacion went 2-for-4, and knocked in the Giants’ lone run with a double in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Chapman went 1-for-2 with a double, as did his replacement at third, Parks Harber. Will Brennan continued his sneaky-good spring with a 1-for-3 night, and he scored the Giants’ lone run.

Drew Gilbert went 0-for-4 tonight, and he is 1-for-7 since his return from his left shoulder injury. While Gilbert struck out in his first two at-bats today, he made solid contact in a fly out to fairly-deep right-center in the bottom of the seventh, and he fouled off a pair of two-strike pitches before grounding out in the bottom of the ninth.

What people have to remember too about Gilbert is that he is not even playing the field yet. A 1-for-7 since his return is hardly something for him or anybody else to be concerned about.

Birdsong hopes to only miss a few weeks:

Hayden Birdsong has been sidelined with what originally was reported to be soreness in his right elbow. However, Birdsong’s agent, Scott Boras, says it is not his elbow, and Birdsong plans to get a second option. Birdsong also said that he hopes to miss only a few weeks.

Two more players cut:

The Giants cut two more players today, both of them pitchers. Left-hander Juan Sanchez, who escaped walking the bases load in his appearance against the Chicago White Sox last night, has been cut. Right-hander Wilkin Ramos has also been cut.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: First day of cuts ends with 3-3 tie against White Sox

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants third baseman Sabin Cebellos (2) shares congratulations from teammate after a Giants win from Wed Mar 11, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. The Giants and the Chicago White Sox ended up in a 3-3 knot at Scottsdale Stadium on Thu Mar 12, 2026 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SCOTTSDALE AZ–The Giants ended up tied with the White Sox 3-3 in a nine-inning affair from Scottsdale Stadium.

If you are wondering why we ended up tied, spring training games rarely go extra innings these days. So let’s look at how we got here.

Trevor McDonald got the start, and went four innings, giving two runs on four hits. He walked one, and struck out four. Both runs came via the solo home run. Lenyn Sosa lined one out to left in the top of the second, and Derek Hill hit one out the other way to right in the top of the third.

Matt Gage, who is working on a new splitter here in camp, gave up a hit and struck out two in the top of the fifth. Keaton Winn, who has been pumping the gun this spring, gave up a hit and struck out a guy in a scoreless top of the sixth.

Will Brennan, who has had a sneaky-good camp, got the Giants on the board with a perfectly-placed ground ball base-hit up the middle in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Chapman then lined a two-out, two-strike base-hit to left off Eric Adler to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Chapman ended up going 2-for-3 tonight.

The White Sox scored a run off Tristan Beck in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead.

Left-hander Juan Sanchez, who has an interesting herky-jerky motion, walked the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, but was somehow able to get out of it unscathed. In that inning, Darren Baker, who was over here from the White Sox’ minor league camp, stole second and third. The kid has got some real speed, and he could be quite valuable for a lot of major league teams.

Eric Haase walked with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Jarred Oliva then pinch-ran, and seemed to feel quite inspired by Darren, as he stole second and third as well. Jerar Encarnacion got Oliva in with a sacrifice fly to right-center to tie it, and that would turn out to be it for the night.

Giants make first four cuts:

Prior to the game, Manager Tony Vitello announced the first four cuts of camp. Among the casualties were right-handed pitchers Will Bednar and Trent Harris; catcher Diego Cartaya; and outfielder Bo Davidson, one of the Giants’ top prospects.

Birdsong sidelined with elbow trouble:

Giants’ pitcher Hayden Birdsong finally had his first solid outing of the spring on Tuesday, but is now being sidelined with a right elbow injury, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. According to Slussler, the Giants will defer to the team’s medical staff before any decisions are made.

Other notes:

Harrison Bader led off tonight in his return from the World Baseball Classic, and went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Rafael Devers went 0-for-4 tonight to make it 0-for-15 on the spring. Hey, he’s coming off an injury, and oh yeah, it’s Spring Training.

Daniel Susac, who is currently locked in the battle for the backup catcher’s role against Jesus Rodriguez, went 1-for-2 with a solid opposite-field base-hit to right and a walk.

Giants report: SF players contributing in World Baseball Classic

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Vince Cestone

The World Baseball Classic is underway, and a few San Francisco Giants players are contributing on the international stage.

Giants ace Logan Webb pitched the opening game for Team USA on March 7. He went four innings, giving up one hit and one earned run. He had six strikeouts in the game. The lone run Webb gave up came from a home run by Team Brazil’s Lucas Ramirez, the son of Manny Ramirez. USA won the game 15-5.

Giants second base free agent acquisition Luis Arraez is also representing San Francisco well in the WBC. In three games for Team Venezuela, Arraez is 6-for-11, with two home runs and seven RBIs in three games. He has two doubles, a walk, and only struck out one time in classic Arraez fashion. The Giants hope Arraez keeps this up when the regular season starts in two weeks at Oracle Park against the New York Yankees.

San Francisco outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is 5-for-18 in the WBC. He has two doubles over those four games with no strikeouts, which is always a great sign. Serving as the team captain for Team Korea, he was clutch on Tuesday in his team’s 7-2 win against Australia. Lee’s third inning double gave Korea a 3-0 lead. The Giants hope he can be a dynamic presence at the top of the lineup in 2026.

Giants left fielder Helio Ramos is only 1-for-13 with a double for Team Puerto Rico. He has struck out six times, which is almost half the time. The Giants are hoping Ramos can cut down on his strikeouts, but it doesn’t look like that’s been happening at least in the WBC.

New Giants center fielder Harrison Bader is only 3-for-14 in the WBC but has a home run. With Israel, he’s struck out five times and has two RBIs in four games. The Giants hope he can provide athleticism and speed in the outfield for the Giants in 2026. Outfield defense was one of their biggest weaknesses last year.

Reliever Jose Butto has pitched three perfect innings for Venezuela, notching one strikeout. The Giants acquired Butto from the New York Mets in the Tyler Rogers trade. The Giants hope he can help out their bullpen, which is still a big question mark for 2026.

Lastly, for Team Great Britain, Tristan Beck has given up one run in 1 1/3 innings. He has struck out one batter in two games. On Friday, Team Mexico first baseman Jonathan Aranda hit a 346-foot, three-run homer off of Beck that gave them the lead in the eighth inning. Great Britain lost the game 8-2.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants’ prospects have solid day in 5-4 win over Guardians

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 delivers a pitch during the spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 10, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (John Medina Special to the Mercury News)

By Stephen Ruderman

GOODYEAR AZ–The Giants’ prospects showed their worth in San Francisco’s 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear AZ on Tuesday.

Drew Gilbert finally returned after missing two weeks due to a left shoulder impingement. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat in the top of the third inning. Though hey, he was a bit rusty, and he was up against Guardians’ ace, Tanner Bibee.

Gilbert grounded out in the top of the fourth, but he singled the other way to left in the top of the seventh. Not a bad return for the Giants’ eccentric young outfielder.

Speaking of Giants’ prospects who hit for contact and don’t strike out much, catcher Jesus Rodriguez was back in the lineup after his big 5-for-7 weekend. 

Rodriguez made a nice two-strike adjustment against Bibee, and lined a high fastball for a base-hit into left-center field in the top of the first. As center-fielder Steven Kwan went over to field it, Rodriguez decided to take a chance, and was able to hustle out a double.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez struck out his next two times. Still, his double in the first was quite impressive, and any team will love a guy who will do anything to take the extra 90 feet. The fight for the Giants’ backup catcher’s rule between Rodriguez and Daniel Susac will be an interesting one.

As for other big prospects, Bryce Eldridge, the biggest of them all, went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Seymour has strong four innings in first start:

Carson Seymour took the ball in his fourth appearance and first start of the spring.

Seymour gave up a run and just two hits over four innings. He walked one, and struck out three.

Birdsong has much-needed solid inning:

Hayden Birdsong pitched a much-needed scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth.

It is no secret that the last seven and a half months have been a nightmare for Birdsong. After not being able to record a single out after facing six batters in his start against the Braves in Atlanta on July 21 of last year, Birdsong did not pitch again in the big leagues the rest of the season. 

To make matters worse, Birdsong’s struggles continued this spring. He gave up five runs over just a third of an inning to the Seattle Mariners when he started the Giants’ cactus league opener on Feb. 21 in Peoria. He then gave up three runs in a relief inning against the Colorado Rockies on Feb. 26 in Scottsdale. 

Birdsong made his first appearance in 13 days when he was brought in for the bottom of the sixth. It was no easy task, as he immediately had to face one of the best hitters in baseball in Steven Kwan. Birdsong got out to a quick 0-2 count, but Kwan worked the count full. Kwan then fouled off the next two, but Birdsong got him to ground out to second.

That was a big break for Birdsong, but he faced trouble when Bryan Rocchio immediately followed up Kwan’s strikeout with a double. Birdsong then faced another dangerous hitter in Jose Ramirez, and struck him out. Chase DeLauter grounded out to second, and Birdsong ended up with a scoreless inning.

When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before:

You know the old saying. When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before. Well the 4,844 in attendance here at Goodyear Ballpark had two such instances Tuesday.

The Giants had a runner at second in Jared Oliva with two outs in the top of the third with Jesus Rodriguez at the plate. Oliva broke for third, and the throw from Guardians’ catcher David Fry hit Rodriguez’s bat and went out of play.

Since Rodriguez had stood still in his place in the batter’s box, Home Plate Umpire Nic Lentz correctly did not call interference. Of course, since the throw ended up going out of play, Oliva was awarded home plate.

Now, had Rodriguez and/or his bat moved while Fry was throwing and the same thing happened, Rodriguez would have been called out for interference, and Oliva would have been returned to second base.

Then with one out and no one on in the top of the eighth, Grant McCray hit a ground ball that hit off the glove of Guardians’ first-baseman Juan Brito. The ball ricochetted over to pitcher Pedro Avila, who rolled over to the bag at first for one of the most incredible 3-1 putouts you will ever see. 

Even in Spring Training, you may see something you’ve never seen before when you came to the park. Tuesday, we were fortunate enough to see two of them.

Other notes:

  • The Giants scored two more unearned runs off Bibee in the top of the fourth.
  • Tyler Fitzgerald made it a three-run fourth for the Giants with a two-run home run down the left field line off Guardians’ reliever Steven Perez.