New opportunities are yielding (very) early returns for the SF Giants

SF Giants manager Tony Vitello is accustomed to working with young players who want to make their case. Every time his name is brought up whether in a conversation or an article, it's usually followed by "the guy who went straight from college to the majors with no professional baseball experience," and rightfully so.

He did become the first person in MLB history to move directly from a college program into an MLB managerial job without previously working for a professional baseball organization. Not only that, but his president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, is going through his first full year at the helm of a franchise. Two rookies holding two very important positions within the organization.

Their combined lack of experience has come with a price at certain points this season. For example the way Posey dealt with the Pride night controversy or Vitello's multiple questionable pitching decisions. With the Giants now past the deadline after they traded six major-leaguers including impending free agents Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray and picked up eight prospects in the process, their roster got a whole lot younger and less experienced. Vitello might be one of the best-equipped manager to deal with a situation like this one, with one of his goals for the rest of the year being to bring the best out of those young players.

Giants now have a roster that looks very different

Following their flurry of moves, the Giants added Tristan Beck, Reiver Sanmartin, Carson Seymour, Blade Tidwell, Buddy Kennedy, and Eddys Leonard to the roster. Nate Furman and Osleivis Basabe were called up after both Casey Schmitt and Jesus Rodriguez were placed on the injured list. Out of the 26 players currently on the roster, eight have appeared in fewer than 50 MLB games.

One of them, Leonard, made his big-league debut on Tuesday after spending more than nine years in the minor leagues. Since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent back in 2017, Leonard has participated in 753 minor-league games for 13 different teams across five different organizations and has worked his way through every minor-league level.

The pitcher who started on the mound that same day, Blade Tidwell, came into the game having appeared in just 12 major-league games. His 13th came in the form of a start, the third of his big-league career and his first with San Francisco since joining the club at last year's trade deadline. After a rough first inning, in which he threw 32 pitches and allowed two runs on three hits, Tidwell showed why he should receive more opportunities down the road. He settled down after that rocky opening frame and pitched four shutout innings on his way to 100 pitches.

Pitchers don't approach a game the same way whether it's a start or an appearance out of the bullpen. Tidwell is familiar with both scenarios, as he started the year as a relif arm before being stretched out into a starter in Sacramento. Vitello mentioned in his postgame presser Tidwell's "bulldog mentality" when he needs to get three outs but also his ability to last multiple innings and find a rhythm. He's going to get more starts going forward. He might also be used as a long reliever or even a closer. Just to see where he fits best. But his first audition for a starter role was convincing.

Another player who's been convincing in his short time with the club is Osleivis Basabe. The 25-year-old has appeared in six games with the Giants this season and has already collected a double, three home runs and eight RBI. His three homers weren't just solo shots in the ninth inning of a blowout loss, they were all clutch. His first one in San Diego was a two-run shot that tied the game in the third inning. His second one the next day cut a two-run deficit in half. And finally on Tuesday in Texas, his two-run homer in the seventh inning brought the Giants back into the game and tied the score at two apiece.

Luis Arraez is now gone, and Matt Chapman's return is getting more doubtful by the day, as a recent MRI confirmed a core muscle injury. Chapman will travel to Philadelphia next week to receive an assessment from a specialist in that field. The team won't rush him back, and Vitello raised the possibility that he might not play again this season. His absence, along with Casey Schmitt's, will open up a ton of playing time for Basabe, Furman, Christian Koss, Kennedy, Leonard, or even Jonah Cox once he gets back to the majors.

Just like Heliot Ramos' departure has opened the door for more playing time for Grant McCray in the outfield. While the 25-year-old homegrown outfielder hasn't hit the ball well so far (he's just 3-for-25 with a homer), his dreadful strikeout rate is getting closer to league average in his small sample size this year, he's drawn six walks in 33 plate appearances, stolen four bases, and his defense has been great. Victor Bericoto, who's missed the last month with an oblique strain, will begin his rehab assignment in Sacramento on Wednesday. The front office saw something in their young outfielders, something that made trading a former All-Star much easier. And they got a nice return for him.

Life is finally back to normal after all the drama and chaos caused by the trade deadline. Some players no longer have to wonder whether they will be traded or not. Some are just happy to be given an opportunity. As for the fans, it's always fun to get to know prospects. Even though the process usually is not accompanied by a lot of wins. There is a reason this team is in this situation: because they couldn't stack up wins before.

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