Hard-throwing SF Giants reliever could be nearing a return, begins rehab assignment

The SF Giants bullpen could get a boost soon enough. On Tuesday, hard-throwing reliever Joel Peguero began a rehab assignment for the Sacramento River Cats, per the team’s transaction log.

The results were not great in Peguero’s first outing. He faced three batters, and walked them all before Wilkin Ramos took over on the mound. Ramos allowed all the runs to score in a 9-2 loss to the Las Vegas Aviators.

In a rehab assignment, the results are not necessarily important. That said, pitchers need to throw strikes before they can move to the next step.

For Peguero, that next step is likely a return to the Giants’ bullpen. He has been out since the beginning of June with a hamstring strain. The severity of the strain was significant enough that they placed him immediately on the 60-day injured list.

SF Giants reliever could assume a key bullpen role

That hamstring strain has bothered Peguero for much of the season. He entered spring training with a chance to win the closer role but sustained a hamstring strain that sidelined him for the first month of the year.

When Peguero did return, he was relatively effective. He pitched to a 2.38 ERA with five strikeouts and four walks in 11.1 innings of work. In a Giants uniform, Peguero has posted a 2.41 ERA across 33.2 frames.

Despite flashing premium velocity, Peguero does not miss many bats. To some degree, that is by design. He leans heavily on an upper 90’s sinker that is intended for hard contact into the ground. Peguero also uses a four-seamer and a hard slider, but the latter pitch does not miss many bats.

In most bullpens, that trait could limit Peguero to a medium-leverage role, but this unit needs all the help it can get. Since the trade deadline, Dylan Smith has been used as the closer, but the results are mixed. Tony Vitello is just trying to see if he can find someone to stick in that role for more than a couple of outings. If Peguero returns to health and throws strikes, he could be an option.

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