SF Giants release lefty starter after brief stint with the organization

The SF Giants signed lefty starter Matt Hall to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A just over a few weeks ago. However, it appears that his stay with the organization was brief.

SF Giants release lefty starter after brief stint with the organization

Hall was released on Monday according to the Sacramento River Cats' transaction page. There is no word on whether this was an opt-out decision or a decision by the organization.

The 28-year-old hurler labored through two appearances with the River Cats as he allowed four earned runs on six hits, seven walks, and four strikeouts through 3.1 innings. The lack of control could have been a red flag for the Giants.

Hall was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 2015 draft out of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. He worked quickly up the minor league ladder, reaching as high as Triple-A by 2018.

He debuted with the Tigers in that same season where he yielded 13 earned runs on 19 hits, including one home run, in eight innings. He reappeared with the Tigers in the following season where he registered a 7.71 ERA in 16 appearances, which would be his longest look on a major league mound.

Hall was traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 2019 season in a minor move that sent catching prospect Jhon Nunez back to Detroit. The struggles continued with Boston as the southpaw allowed 18 earned runs on 17 hits, including two home runs, in 8.2 frames.

The Red Sox released Hall near the end of the 2021 season. In total, he has tallied an 11.48 ERA in parts of three seasons with the Red Sox and the Tigers.

However, he has performed much better in the minors as he has registered a 3.31 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, and a 2.63 SO/W ratio across seven seasons.

When the Giants signed the lefty, it felt like he would help with organizational depth in the upper minors. That still feels like an area of need, especially after Anthony DeSclafani's season-ending ankle injury and the setback to Matthew Boyd.