Tag: giants

Rafael Devers

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

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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.

Oracle Park

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

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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

Victor Bericoto

Giants report: Outfielder Victor Bericoto making strong impression in spring training

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Photo credit: MLB.com

By Vince Cestone

As it always seems to be in spring training, there’s one player who you least expect that makes a strong impression. And for the San Francisco Giants, that player is non-roster invitee Victor Bericoto.

Bericoto has been making loud contact all spring. He is 8-for-14, with two home runs. He is a long shot to make the team when they go north, but you never know if one of the Giants’ main outfielders suffers an injury. If that happens, Bericoto may have his shot on Opening Day if he keeps up his successful spring training at the plate.

The Giants signed Bericoto as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2018. He cost the Giants $25,000. During that time, the Giants also signed current roster member Luis Matos and former Giants infielder Marco Luciano, who is now in the New York Yankees organization.

Before Monday’s game, Bericoto had 9 RBIs in seven games, with an impressive 1.642 OPS. His most impressive season in the minors came in 2023, where he hit 27 home runs and had a .272 batting average in 122 games. Bericoto’s 456 at-bats were split between the Eugene Emeralds (High-A affiliate) and the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A affiliate). He had a solid combined .840 OPS that season.

Bericoto was in Triple-A Sacramento last season, only hitting .196 in 46 at-bats. He had one home run and a double but did not draw a walk in his Triple-A stint. He probably will start 2026 in Sacramento, unless he continues his hot-hitting spring and the Giants decide otherwise.

Even though it’s spring training, Bericoto hit a grand slam against the Dodgers on Friday which will always get attention even if the games don’t count. His two home runs leads the team in that category.

Bericoto, 24, is a converted catcher who plays left field, right field, and also some first base. It will be interesting to see where he ranks in MLB Pipeline’s top 30. That list has not yet been released in 2026.

This is Bericoto’s fifth spring training with the Giants. He could be an intriguing option if he’s on the Opening Day roster at Oracle Park. Opening Day is March 25 against the New York Yankees.

Jung Hoo Lee AP photo

Giants report: SF off to 4-0 start in spring training, pitching well

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San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, of South Korea, works out during spring training baseball on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Scottsdale Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Vince Cestone

The San Francisco Giants are off to a hot start in spring training, going 4-0 to start the Cactus League campaign. But what has really shined for the Giants so far–their pitching.

In their four wins, the Giants held their opponents to just 10 runs, no small feat in the thin, dry Arizona air. And five of those runs came in the first inning of the Cactus League opener where bullpen hopeful Hayden Birdsong struggled with his command. He’ll hope to bounce back in his next spring training appearance.

In the Cactus League opener on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, the Giants bounced back from Birdsong’s horrible outing and won the game 10-5 after being down 5-0 in the first. In his start, he was only able to get one out and gave up five runs, on three walks, while walking two. The knockout punch came when Mariners third baseman Miles Mastrobuoni hit a grand slam, to make the score 5-0.

The Giants bullpen, which used nine relievers, took over and pitched a scoreless 8 2/3 innings. Right hander Blake Tidwell headlined the impressive bullpen performance by striking out the side in his one inning of work. Tidwell was lighting up the radar gun in the high 90s and could make the team as a solid relief option in the late innings. The Giants acquired Tidwell in the Tyler Rogers trade last season.

On the offensive side, the Giants exploded for 10 runs. New Giants outfielder Harrison Bader smashed a 2-RBI double in the second inning, and designated hitter hopeful Bryce Eldridge also had an RBI double in the third inning.

In Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs, the Giants’ pitching shined in their 4-2 win at Scottsdale Stadium. Starting pitcher Robbie Ray wiggled his way out of trouble after giving up a hit and two walks in the first.

This is how Ray survived–with a triple play to get out of the inning.

Carson Seymour chimed in with a one-hit scoreless second inning. He’s also hoping to make the Giants bullpen once they break north for camp. Tristan Beck and Spencer Bivens, who were part of the Giants bullpen last year, also pitched scoreless innings.

On offense, new Giants second baseman Luis Arraez hit a single in the game in three tries. Third baseman Matt Chapman went 2-for-2 with a double. Will Brennan, who the Giants recently signed for outfield depth, contributed with an RBI single in the second inning. Through some small ball, the Giants scratched across four runs and beat the Cubs 4-2.

In the third game of spring training against the Athletics, the Giants again only gave up two runs, but this time added their first home run of the spring.

In the eighth inning, designated hitter Victor Bericoto hit a home run to right field, making the score 6-2 Giants. Bericoto also had an RBI-single in the sixth inning. This Giants prospect converted from catcher to the outfield in 2024. Bericoto signed with the Giants in 2018 as an international free agent.

On the pitching side, in the first inning, JT Brubaker gave up the only two runs the Giants allowed. Trevor McDonald, who made three appearances for the Giants last season, pitched a perfect second inning, striking out two. Marques Johnson was impressive, striking out the side in the sixth inning.

Arraez went 2-or-3 in the game, with a double, single, and 2 RBIs. Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee had a single in the game, going 1-for-3, and Luis Matos had an RBI single. The Giants defeated the A’s in dominant fashion, a rarity in the Cactus League, where the A’s have traditionally had the Giants’ number.

And on Tuesday, in the Giants’ fourth game of the spring, their pitching was better yet. The Giants beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4-1, as ace Logan Webb shined in his two innings of work.

In those two perfect innings, Webb had four strikeouts. Landon Roupp followed with a strong scoreless third inning, allowing just one walk but striking out two. Matt Gage followed in the fourth inning with a perfect frame. In the fifth inning, embattled Giants closer Ryan Walker gave up one hit, but struck out two in his scoreless inning. Walker is vying for the closer role after the Giants decided not to sign one in the free agent market. Walker will be someone to watch this spring.

With the bats, the Giants only had four hits in the game but made the most of them. Lee went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, which opened the scoring in the second inning. The Giants scored the next three and final runs on sacrifice flies, including one from catcher Patrick Bailey. Bailey will look to improve things with the bat in 2026.

The Giants will next play on Wednesday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers. Game time is 12:10 p.m. from American Family Fields of Phoenix. You can listen to the game on MLB.com.

Webb shines as Giants sweep Rockies in 4-0 win, finish season .500

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in San Francisco (AP photo: Thien-An Truong)

By Vince Cestone

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants ended the 2025 season strong behind Logan Webb’s 5 1/3 shutout innings, as they beat the Colorado Rockies 4-0 at Oracle Park on Sunday afternoon.

Webb, in his final start of the season, struck out 8 in his five-plus innings, while walking none. The Giants’ ace righty struck out the side in the first inning.

Webb finished 2025 leading the National League in innings (207) and strikeouts (224). He’s the first to do so since 1944.

The sold-out Oracle Park crowd showed their appreciation for Webb’s dominant season with a standing ovation.

The Giants offense started the game strong, as shortstop Willy Adames smacked his 30th homer of the year on the first pitch of the game. Adames became the first Giant since 2004 to hit at least 30 home runs in a season. Barry Bonds hit 45 home runs in 2004.

The Giants scored again in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Rafael Devers. Devers finished the season with 35 home runs, combined between Boston and San Francisco.

The Giants’ bullpen held the Rockies scoreless after Webb departed in the sixth.

The Giants tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning on a 2-RBI single by Jung Hoo Lee. Lee ended the day 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.

The Giants ended the year going 11-2 against the Rockies, but it wasn’t enough wins for the Giants to get into the postseason. It turns out that 84 wins would’ve been enough for the Giants to get into the 2025 MLB Playoffs.

San Francisco ended 2025 at 81-81.

The Giants will now go into the offseason trying to figure out why they finished the year at or around .500 yet again. After the game, Adames and third baseman Matt Chapman addressed the sold-out crowd promising that next year will be better.

But Giants fans have heard the same thing after season finales since 2022. Will 2026 be different?

Stay with Sports Radio Service all offseason for the latest San Francisco Giants hot stove news.

Giants Allow The Dodgers To Breathe in 5-2 Loss That Concludes the Season’s First Half

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San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray pitched six innings allowing three hits and two runs and six strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun July 13, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Needing a big win, the Giants instead got another reminder that their struggling offense needs a break.

That break comes over the next five days for the All-Star festivities in Atlanta after they squandered an opportunity to tighten the race in the NL West with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings to the first-place Dodgers.

The Giants conclude the first 96 games of the season with a competitive 52-44 record that has them in position to grab one of the six NL playoff spots. But their .230 team batting average ranks 26th of 30 teams, and serves as a constant reminder the season could go south quickly.

“We have some guys that are coming around a little bit,” manger Bob Melvin said of his team’s offense. “We have some guys that will come around a little bit more. We have some guys in the middle of the lineup that are going to do more damage.”

“I think the win-loss, the standings are great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think there’s just a lot of improvement that we need to do, we need to be better at.”

On Sunday, in front of a sold out Oracle Park crowd, the Giants went scoreless over the first eight innings only to be rescued by Luis Matos’ game-tying, pinch-hit home run. After starter Yoshinobo Yamamoto and crafty reliever Alex Vesia manipulated the Giants into a string of outs, Matos gave the home team unexpected life. But they barely breathed, going hitless the rest of the game.

Robbie Ray was All-Star worthy, allowing just two runs in six innings, but he got no support. That lack of help prevented Ray from gaining a 10th victory before the All-Star break. Ray expertly avoided Shohei Ohtani and allowed just three hits, but departed trailing 2-0. Miguel Rojas surprised Ray with his home run in the fifth that increased the Dodgers’ lead.

The two extra frames offered a baseball-only juxtaposition with the Dodgers stringing together three hits despite all coming off weak contact to plate three runs. Meanwhile, the Giants were denied when Rafael Devers’ rocket to center in the 10th was tracked down by James Outman.

“Ball 106 mph off the bat there,” Melvin recounted. “They hit balls like what 40 mph in the last inning? It’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Spencer Bivens took the loss despite retiring Mookie Betts and Will Smith after the decision was made to walk Ohtani to leadoff the inning. Ben Casparius got the win despite almost getting victimized by Devers.

The Giants open the season’s second half in Toronto against the AL East-leading Blue Jays on Friday night.

During the game’s final inning the Giants selected Tennessee Volunteers’ shortstop Gaven Kilen with the 13th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft.

Giants fire Zaidi replace him with Posey; Firing was a long anticipated event

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Buster Posey takes over as the San Francisco Giants new team president as on Mon Sep 30, 2024 replacing former Giants president Farhan Zaidi (photo from mlb.com)

By Lewis Rubman and Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–After six seasons the San Francisco Giants have moved on from team president Farhan Zaidi and have replaced him with former Giants catcher and part owner Buster Posey. Zaidi had one more year left on his guaranteed contract as the Giants missed going to the playoffs for the third straight year.

The Giants who completed their regular season finished two games below .500 at 80-82 and were 453-417 during Zaidi’s six year tenure. Under Zaidi the Giants had one winning year. Zaidi had hired former Giants manager Gabe Kapler who was later fired after the 2023 season. It was under Kapler the Giants had that one winning season in 2021 when San Francisco won 107 games.

The firing on Monday marks the second big firing the Giants have made after Kapler now Zaidi being the second. Zaidi was mentioned by critics as someone the Giants should have let go with Kapler after the 2023 season. The Giants hiring of Bob Melvin for the 2024 season was a positive and gave Zaidi one last chance to steer the club to a winning season which it failed to do.

Beginning and during the 2024 season under Zaidi the Giants spent over$320 million on signing free agents Jung Hoo Lee, Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy. The Giants also added Robbie Ray to their pitching core signing a player that wouldn’t be available until July for another $74 million. The Giants were hoping the moves would pay off as they also gave up two draft picks, it didn’t they ended up going over the luxury tax for the first time since 2017.

Posey was instrumental in getting Chapman signed on Sep 5th to a six year $151 million contract that will keep Chapman in San Francisco through 2030. After the Chapman signing some in the media said that Posey would be a good fit for team president to replace Zaidi. Posey was also instrumental in helping those World Series teams win during his time as catcher and he might be able to get the Giants to the post season under his presidency.

Giants general manager Peter Putila someone no one ever really mentions in the press about what his role was in the Zaidi firing as of now still remains team general manager.

Lewis Rubman and Stephen Ruderman are both Giants beat writers at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s 2024 season wrap up with Stephen Ruderman

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Former San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler who was dealt to the Atlanta Braves during the 2024 season. Was his leaving San Francisco something that impacted the Giants line up? (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s 2024 season wrap up with Stephen Ruderman:

San Francisco Giants: After a mediocre 2024 season it’s the hope for the San Francisco Giants that they’ll be better. The status regarding Giants team president Farhan Zaidi is yet to be determined and most likely it will be figured Monday. Zaidi was signed to an extension last season but he’s been very much been on the hot seat this season.

The Giants didn’t want him to be a lame duck, they didn’t want him to negotiate with free agents and the Giants have failed to make the playoffs and they failed to finish over .500 finishing 2024 80-82 losing their last game of the season on Sunday 6-1.

Farhan is a very smart guy he had his weird successes he started in 2019-2022. He’s had a hard time managing the day to day operations he’s a new age guy and you don’t let the new age guys run the show and hopefully that will be announced on Monday.

Sacramento A’s: Regarding the A’s move to Sacramento an artificial turf expert said went on Friday’s show and said temperatures can range from 160-180 degrees on the field at Sutter Health Park. Now the Players Association they cannot veto the Sacramento move.

However, the MLBPA to the conditions and they could kind of defacto veto it and not agree to the conditions. The way it’s set up the players will not be able to play on natural grass. One rumor is that the Giants minor league team the Rivercats would go to Fresno but good luck with that and they would have to put artificial turf in Fresno.

Stephen Ruderman covered San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s baseball at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Ryan Walker Era Doesn’t Come With Frills and Extras

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Ryan Walker embraces opportunity and upward mobility. But he’s not ascending with thoughts of adding an entourage, theme music, or a mood-setting game entrance.

Instead, Walker’s setting the tone with his sinker and the maintenance of his low-key demeanor. Yeah, he’s got a beard and a hint of swag, but no, he’s not Brian Wilson 2.0 or Sergio Romo.

He’s Ryan Walker, selected by the Giants in the now-defunct 31st round of 2018 draft, and he doesn’t pontificate. Actually, he mumbles a bit. And he’s the Giants’ new closer in place of the demoted Camilo Doval.

“I was really excited for the opportunity,” Walker said. “I never really thought this could happen.”

What’s happened is quite unlikely. Beyond Walker being drafted so late, four years passed before he got his big league promotion. And when he arrived in San Francisco, his ceiling was being a setup man, or so he thought.

But the Giants started to think differently when Walker’s sinker, slider combination showed refinement, and his strikeout numbers increased. The final step was harnessing his control and lowering his walk rate.

Then the unforseen happened when Camilo Doval struggled to the point he went from National League All-Star closer in 2023 to Pacific Coast League reclamation project. First, the fans built a groundswell of support for Walker–along with disdain for Doval’s shortcomings–and team president Farhan Zaidi and manager Bob Melvin shockingly followed suit.

“Could we have put (Doval) in a lesser role?” Melvin pondered. “I don’t know that it would help. I think that some of the issues that he needs to work on would be easier to do somewhere else than the big leagues. He’s an All-Star. We expect him to come back and be an All-Star.”

Melvin also stated Walker’s case beyond his effective sinker, slider combo that mirrors Saturday’s starter, Logan Webb.

He’s pretty good,” Melvin said prior to Saturday’s game. “Probably had our toughest role in that he would come in with guys on base all the time, and a lot of times go out for the next inning.”

Walker’s been described as a pitcher who sets the table with his sinker, which tops out at 97 mph, and confounds hitters with his slider at 84 mph. Called on to protect a 3-1 lead, the right-hander threw nine sliders and nine sinkers, and struck out Dillon Dingler and Javier Baez to end the game. Walker also ramped up the tension by allowing two of the first three hitters, Gio Urshela and Bligh Madris, to reach, giving the 28-year old a true first test as closer.

“Awesome. Nerve-racking,” he said.

Already this season, Walker has compiled a major-league leading 59 appearances, including eight in which he’s pitched more than an inning. Even more appealing, he has 73 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings work. His 2.20 ERA is half of what Doval built up, and he’s all business.

Could Walker take this once-in-a-baseball-life opportunity and run with it?

He could. Just don’t expect him to expound on his good fortune in a show of self-promotion.