San Francisco Giants Spring Training Preview: Relief Pitchers

Set in Stone … barring injury, trade or drop off in performance:

• George Kontos
• Derek Law
• Mark Melancon
• Will Smith
• Hunter Strickland

Bruce Bochy likes to go into a season with a minimum of 11 pitchers, and usually 12. It will not be surprising if this season is no different. Kontos, Law, Smith and Strickland are the closest things to a sure thing to join Melancon as we can get heading into 2017.

It was crystal clear that with the struggles of the bullpen last year and the three veteran free agents not being re-signed, that the replacements for the pen were actually going to be more set roles for the young pitchers that remain.

George Kontos

Kontos has been with the Giants for five seasons, winning two World Series rings. Last season Kontos appeared in 57 games and pitched 53.1 innings. His 2.53 ERA was second on the team to Law’s 2.13 and his 1.163 WHIP was third in the bullpen behind Law and Strickland.

Derek Law

Law not only had the best ERA among the Giants relief pitchers, but he also led the team with a 2.53 FIP, 0.964 WHIP and 193 ERA+. Law looked to be the Giants future closer as he rose through the minor leagues, but Tommy John surgery hurt his progress. Now, after being the most consistent Giants reliever in 2016, Law may end up being a long term answer alongside Melancon at the end of the Giants pen.

Mark Melancon

Melancon nearly became a Giant at the trade deadline, but signed with the team in the offseason to be the team’s closer. He has earned 168 saves since 2011 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. After last year’s deadline that saw him traded to Washington, Melancon saved 17 games while maintaining a 1.82 ERA, 2.07 FIP, 0.809 WHIP and 232 ERA+.

Will Smith

Smith was acquired at the trade deadline from the Milwaukee Brewers. He only pitched 18.1 innings with the Giants in 2016, but he pitched well, earning a 2.95 ERA and 1.78 FIP.

Hunter Strickland

Strickland led all relief pitchers in appearances in 2016 with 72 appearances as well as innings pitched out of the bullpen with 61.

Who Will Earn the Final Rose?

• Carlos Alvarado (Non Roster Invitee)
• Jose Dominguez (NRI)
• Cory Gearrin
• Roberto Gomez (NRI)
• Bryan Morris (NRI)
• Steven Okert
• Josh Osich
• Neil Ramirez (NRI)
• Matt Reynolds (NRI)
• Michael Roth (NRI)
• Kraig Sitton (NRI)

Ryan Vogelsong earned the final roster spot as a non roster invitee in 2011. He went on to pitch in the All-Star game that season and help the Giants win two more World Series championships in 2012 and 2014. While non roster invitees rarely make that kind of impact on a team, it is possible that one of the many pitchers brought in do find their way onto the Opening Day roster.

Carlos Alvarado

Alvarado pitched for three teams in the Giants farm system in 2016, ending up with the Richmond Flying Squirrels. He did not allow a run with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes or San Jose Giants over 11 appearances and 12 innings pitched. In 19.1 innings in Richmond, Alvarado maintained a 2.79 ERA and 0.67 WHIP.

Jose Dominguez

Dominguez has pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres in the last four seasons. In 34 appearances in San Diego last year, Dominguez earned a 5.05 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

Cory Gearrin

Gearrin is the most likely of the group to make the 2017 team among right-handed pitchers. He recently signed a new deal with the Giants along with shortstop Ehire Adrianza. Although, as we saw with Adrianza, that doesn’t guarantee a spot on the roster. If Gearrin doesn’t make the team, it also means the loss of one of the team’s left fielders.

Roberto Gomez

Gomez pitched five seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization from 2010-2014. He was released by the Montgomery Biscuits on October 8, 2014 and did not sign with anyone again until he was assigned to the Aguilas Cibaenas on Nov. 7, 2016. This winter he struck out 16 batters and gave up 16 hits over 16 innings for Aguilas Cibaenas.

Bryan Morris

Morris made his major league debut in 2012 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has spent the last three seasons with the Miami Marlins. After a total of 106 appearances in 2014 and 2015, Morris only appeared in 24 games in 2016. He did maintain a 3.06 ERA over 17.2 innings but had a 6.49 FIP as well.

Steven Okert

Okert has moved up the Giants farm system through the bullpen. In 2014, he converted 24 of 26 save opportunities for San Jose and Richmond. Throughout his minor league career he has maintained a 3.01 ERA and never had an ERA higher than 3.82 in any season. As a September call up in 2016, Okert maintained a 3.21 ERA over 16 appearances and 14 innings pitched during the pennant race.

Josh Osich

Osich’s numbers were outstanding in 2015, earning an ERA of 2.20 along with 1.116 WHIP over 35 appearances and 28.2 innings pitched. However, his 2016 numbers were not good as injuries played a huge role in his performance. Osich earned a 4.71 ERA and 1.376 WHIP over 59 appearances and 36.1 innings pitched. If he comes into Spring Training looking like he did in 2015, he will make the Opening Day roster.

Neil Ramirez

Ramirez began his major league career in 2014 with the Chicago Cubs and has also pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins. His numbers in 2014 were outstanding with a 1.44 ERA over 50 appearances and 43.2 innings pitched. Injuries cut short his 2015 to just 19 appearances and he has struggled ever since. The former first round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2007 is being given another chance to turn his career around.

Matt Reynolds

Reynolds pitched for the Giants in 2016, posting a 7.50 ERA in eight relief appearances. However, he was originally signed by the Giants last season because he had 20 scoreless appearances in Double and Triple-A for Richmond and the Sacramento River Cats. Over six major league seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Giants, Reynolds has a career ERA of 3.80 in 221 relief appearances and 173 innings.

Michael Roth

Roth began his major league career in 2013 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and pitched last season for the Texas Rangers. In 36 major league innings pitched in his career, he had earned a ERA of 8.50. The 26-year-old left-hander was a former ninth round pick of the Angels in 2012.

Kraig Sitton

Sitton is a former seventh round pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 2010 amateur draft. After pitching through Double-A in the Rockies organization, he joined the Mariners in 2016. He pitched for their Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. Sitton earned a 2.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 35 appearances and 43 innings pitched. The 28-year-old left-hander is another minor league free agent option if farm hands like Okert and Osich struggle.

Longshots and Bad Fits…for now:

• Ray Black
• Kyle Crick
• Ian Gardeck

Ray Black 

Black has been one of the most interesting prospects to come along in recent history. His 100 mile per hour fastball has become his signature talking point in recent years, which is only matched by his injury history. Black has been lights out at times and his fastball has carried him through his struggles.

When MLB.com profiled him in 2015, they went over his long injury history.

Black said he threw between 88 and 92 mph in high school, before having Tommy John surgery. Once he got back on the mound, his fastball was in the upper-90s. Black then found himself back in rehab after he tore his right meniscus and broke his right hand. Then, Black tore his right labrum, delaying the start of his professional career. After the Giants selected Black in the seventh round of the 2011 Draft he didn’t pitch until 2014, but when he did something happened. Black’s fastball velocity had peaked again, this time hitting triple digits. “I’d always flirted with it,” the 25-year old said. “Before I had my shoulder fixed I’d hit 99 one time, but that’s as high as I’d got.”

Black pitched in Double-A last year, striking out 53 in only 31.1 innings, but he also earned a 4.88 ERA and 1.564 WHIP. With 100 mph-plus on the radar gun and 17.2 K/9 throughout his minor league career, Black will continue to be given chances if healthy.

For more on Ray Black’s career and his journey, check out the interview I did with Black in March of 2015.

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Kyle Crick

Crick was a supplemental first round pick of the Giants in the 2011 amateur draft. After a promising start to his career, Crick has struggled. Crick was considered a top 100 prospect in 2013 and 2014 by most major outlets, but has fallen off since. Over 109 innings pitched in Double-A last season, Crick earned a 5.04 ERA and 1.624 WHIP. He was used exclusively as a starting pitcher in 2016, but the Giants tried him as a relief pitcher in 2015. The 24-year-old right-hander may be out of chances to stay on the 40 man roster, and with the Giants organization.

Ian Gardeck

Gardeck is another pitcher who has been kept on the roster by the Giants despite injuries. He missed the entire 2016 season because of Tommy John surgery and might not be able to pitch at Spring Training at all. Despite the injury, the Giants still believe Gardeck is worth keeping on the roster.

Next: Giants Sign Gordon Beckham

San Francisco Giants pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale, Ariz. February 13 and begin workouts February 14.