SF Giants recall top young outfielder, rookie pitching prospect in series of moves

The SF Giants made a pair of roster moves on Friday. Top young outfielder Luis Matos and rookie pitcher Kai-Wei Teng were recalled, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants recall top young outfielder, rookie pitching prospect in series of moves

Mike Yastrzemski was placed on paternity leave and we would like to congratulate the Yastrzemski family for the new addition to their family. Paternity leave can last up to three days, so he is set to return in relatively short order. On the other hand, Luke Jackson went on the injured list with a lower back strain.

Matos made a strong case to make the Opening Day roster, but he along with Marco Luciano were optioned to Triple-A as some of the last roster moves. Matos was expected to be the replacement when news came that Yastrzemski would be going on paternity leave.

The young outfielder was arguably the Giants' best hitter in the Cactus League. He tallied 16 hits, including 10 extra-base hits, with 11 RBI in 53 at-bats in the spring. Despite this, there was no clear path to playing time without an injury.

The Giants' current outfield alignment consists of Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto, and Jung Hoo Lee. For the time being, the Giants remain committed to that group, but the pressure will be on Conforto and Yastrzemski to stay healthy and perform. If Matos hits like he did prior to his promotion to the Giants last year, it will only be a matter of time before he is up for good.

The Giants recalled Kai-Wei Teng along with Matos. Teng was added to the 40-man roster in the winter and is set to make his major league debut. The 25-year-old pitcher began last season in Double-A but was promoted to Triple-A after posting a 4.75 ERA in 12 starts. He made 17 more appearances with the Sacramento River Cats, recording a 4.22 ERA, 1.443 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, and a 2.00 SO/W ratio across 79 innings.

The Giants have used him primarily as a starter, but a move to the bullpen might be the quickest way for him to carve out a role. He flashes a low-90's fastball with a slider, curveball, and a changeup. The secondary offerings all rate as quality pitches with the slider becoming his best pitch in recent seasons.

Lastly, Luke Jackson landed on the injured list. He did not record an out while yielding three earned runs on Opening Day before sustaining the back strain.