SF Giants activate and option lefty reliever, transfer Wilmer Flores to the 60-day IL

The SF Giants welcomed back Ethan Small to the 40-man roster on Friday. He was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A. In a corresponding move, Wilmer Flores was transferred to the 60-day injured list according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants activate and option lefty reliever, transfer Wilmer Flores to the 60-day IL

Flores was placed on the injured list at the end of July and underwent a season-ending knee procedure shortly thereafter. The veteran bat struggled badly in 2024, slashing .206/.277/.318 with four home runs, 26 RBI, and 19 runs in 242 plate appearances.

He is one year removed from posting an .863 OPS with 23 home runs and 60 RBI, so the Giants are hopeful that the knee procedure will help him return to that form. Flores has a mutual option for 2025. If he declines his $3.5 player option, then it becomes an $8.5 million club option. There is a good chance that he returns with the club, especially after a down year.

On the other hand, the Giants brought back Ethan Small from the injured list. He was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers right before spring training in exchange for cash considerations. The lefty pitcher entered camp with a chance at making the Opening Day roster. However, he sustained an oblique strain at the end of March, causing him to miss the first half of the season.

The 27-year-old was originally a first-round pick by the Brewers in the 2019 draft out of Mississippi State University. He came up as a starter, but transitioned to the bullpen as he did not show enough command to stick in the rotation.

On the mound, the southpaw pitcher flashes a low 90's four-seam fastball with a changeup and a slider. The changeup is his best pitch, but the fastball has solid armside movemenet, running in on left-handed hitters. The slider is a below-average offering but has some functionality against lefties.

Besides the changeup, the stuff does not jump off of the page, but it plays up when he commands it due to a deceptive delivery. Small hides the ball until the last moment with a windmill-like delivery where the arm starts low and then he delivers it from an over-the-top release point. He can mix in a few different looks with his delivery.

Small joins relievers like Camilo Doval and Austin Warren as experienced arms in the Sacramento River Cats' bullpen. While Erik Miller and Taylor Rogers are the primary lefties out of Bob Melvin's bullpen, Small could be a candidate to help the club down the stretch.