Another young SF Giants pitcher has a disastrous start to spring training

Coming into spring training, there was some excitement surrounding young SF Giants southpaw Carson Whisenhunt due to the velocity he flashed in a live batting practice session. That excitement took a hit on Wednesday as Whisenhunt had a brutal first Cactus League outing.

Pitching against the Milwaukee Brewers, Whisenhunt surrendered five earned runs in one inning of work as he walked four batters, struck out one, and allowed one hit. It was a less than ideal start as he tries to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Carson Whisenhunt has a rough first outing of spring training for SF Giants

Whisenhunt is not alone, though. Hayden Birdsong had a really rough outing in San Francisco's first Cactus League game as he allowed five earned runs and a grand slam.

The most alarming thing about Whisenhunt's outings is the four walks. You can live with a guy getting knocked around a bit in Arizona, but the free passes are just not acceptable.

It's a bit ironic since Birdsong and Whisenhunt may have been the two favorites among the cadre of young starters in camp to make the team. Birdsong looked great in a relief role to begin last season and with the bullpen as wide open as it is he would make sense as long as he is on point with his stuff.

The same can be said of Whisenhunt. Even though both he and Birdsong are thought of as starters long-term, they may be able to have the greatest impact for the team coming out of the bullpen at least for this season.

It's still very early, but so far Trevor McDonald has been the most impressive of any of the young starters in camp. He looked strong in his one outing so far and he too has seen an uptick in velocity compared to last year.

There is plenty of time for Whisenhunt to turn things around, but he simply has to start finding the strike zone. If he can't throw strikes consistently then there is simply no way that he will make the Opening Day roster.

No matter what, we should see him at some point this season. Whether it is due to an injury in the rotation or he is pitching so well in Triple-A that he forces a call-up, he will likely factor into the equation eventually.

It was a rough first outing in spring training, but there is still plenty of Cactus League to go.