SF Giants reassign Leone, Gott, Tropeano, and Littell

The SF Giants reassigned right-handed pitchers Trevor Gott, Zack Littell, Dominic Leone, and Nick Tropeano to minor-league camp on Tuesday. All four had been competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Instead, the Giants opted to keep their 40-man roster intact.

Leone, Gott, Littell, and Tropeano all signed minor-league contracts with San Francisco this offseason. As non-roster invitees to spring training, the Giants would have had to designate a player on the 40-man roster for assignment to create a spot for them. There were some obvious candidates, but the franchise opted to prioritize maintaining their depth instead.

The SF Giants reassigned Trevor Gott, Dominic Leone, Zack Littell, and Nick Tropeano to minor-league camp.

Leone was easily the most dominant Giants reliever this spring. Across eight appearances, he has allowed just one earned run through 7.2 innings with 13 strikeouts and just two walks. If any non-roster invitee deserved a spot on the Opening Day roster, it was him.

Tropeano made a compelling case of his own. With big-league experience as a starter and reliever, he had the potential to serve as a long-reliever and spot starter if the Giants were nervous about their rotation. He completed 10 innings across six appearances during spring training, posting a 2.70 ERA, striking out 13, but walking five.

Easily the youngest of the group, the 25-year-old Zack Littell was solid for the Giants all spring. Across 10 appearances, Littell finished 10 innings, struck out 11, and walked just two. He did allow 12 hits and finished the preseason with a 4.50 ERA, but his .379 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) suggests he suffered from some bad luck.

Gott had been a solid reliever in 2019 with the Giants. However, after beginning last season as the team’s closer, he blew three consecutive saves and was nearly unusable in the pandemic-shortened season. He finished the year with a 10.03 ERA and as many walks (8) as strikeouts across 11.2 innings pitched. He re-signed with the organization on a minor-league deal after they designated him for assignment this offseason. This spring, Gott was far more effective, finishing with a 4.15 ERA, 10 strikeouts, and three walks in 8.2 innings of work.

While Trevor Gott, Zack Littell, Dominic Leone, and Nick Tropeano will not be on the SF Giants Opening Day roster, all four will receive plenty of opportunities to compete for another opportunity at minor-league camp and Triple-A. The Giants have aggressively promoted and optioned relievers over the past two seasons, which could easily open the door for any of those four if they continue to have success.