SF Giants: Reliever Reyes Moronta Not Returning in 2020

After undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder at the end of 2019, there was some hope that SF Giants right-handed hurler Reyes Moronta would make an appearance in 2020.

However, those hopes were dashed on Wednesday when Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Moronta has not been included in the SF Giants postseason bubble if they make the playoffs:

The recovery time for labrum surgery varies depending on a player’s position, but it is normally 12 months or more for a pitcher.

Moronta sustained the injury at the beginning of September in 2019 in a scary scene that saw the 27-year-old tumble to the ground after releasing a fastball.

The fact that he was even considered an option at any point this season should serve as an encouraging sign for his progress. The hard-throwing hurler had quietly become one of the most reliable arms in the bullpen before his injury.

In three seasons, Moronta has posted a 2.66 ERA (3.38 FIP) with 160 strikeouts across 128.1 innings. The ability to collect punchouts in bunches has never been an issue for him, but knowing where the pitch is going has been a problem.

Since he debuted back in 2017, the SF Giants reliever has generated a 5.1 BB/9. Clearly, that mark is too high for comfort. That said, he can get himself into trouble as well as get out of it.

The 2021 bullpen is light on reliable, right-handed arms, so Moronta’s return to the mound will be a welcomed sight.

As currently constructed, Tyler Rogers, Shaun Anderson, and Sam Coonrod are slated to compete with Moronta for a right-handed role in next year’s bullpen.

Rogers (5.04 ERA) and Coonrod (7.24 ERA) have experienced sophomore slumps after showing promise in 2019. However, Anderson (3.95 ERA) has gotten better as the season has worn and is looking to finish the year on a high note.

There will be plenty of opportunity for Moronta to carve out a role again next year.

The good news is that he is recovering well from major surgery\ and when he returns to the mound in March, he will be 18 months removed from sustaining a torn labrum.

Sadly, we will not see him throw this year, but he should become an important arm out of the bullpen after he is fully healed and ready to go in 2021.