SF Giants release minor leaguer infielder and left-handed pitcher

The SF Giants released a pair of players this week. Left-handed pitcher Daniel Tillo and minor league infielder Riley Mahan were released according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants release minor leaguer infielder and left-handed pitcher

Tillo had appeared with the Sacramento River Cats, whereas Mahan played for the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2023. Utility player Shane Matheny, who began the season with Sacramento, was assigned to Double-A to give that roster more flexibility and depth.

The River Cats are getting back a few arms this week in Sean Newcomb and Mauricio Llovera, so a move was needed to create space on the roster. Newcomb, who had some good seasons with the Atlanta Braves, recently began a rehab assignment with the San Jose Giants. That assignment was completed after just two rehab outings.

The Giants signed Tillo to a minor league deal last April after he was released by the Kansas City Royals. He recorded a 4.01 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, and a 1.77 SO/W ratio in 19 outings across three Giants levels, including three appearances with Sacramento.

San Francisco rewarded him with a spring training invite. Though, the odds of making the team out of camp were low and his role was to help soak up innings in the Cactus League. The left-handed pitcher began this season in Triple-A, but he never found his footing as he posted a 9.59 ERA with more walks (24) than strikeouts (17) across 25.1 frames. The 2017 third-round pick will become a free agent for the second time in his career.

On the other hand, the Giants added Riley Mahan on a minor league deal in May of last season after he appeared with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League. Mahan was released from the Miami Marlins organization at the start of the 2022 season and appeared briefly in non-affiliated ball with Kentucky.

The left-handed bat put up respectable numbers with the Giants in 2022 as he posted a .828 OPS with 12 home runs across three levels. Similar to Tillo, Mahan served as organizational depth, moving to a different affiliate when the need arose.

He struggled to the tune of a .624 OPS, but with eight home runs in 177 plate appearances with Richmond this season. The Eastern League can be tough on hitters, so his struggles are not entirely unique. However, the 27-year-old joins Tillo on the open market after the Giants trimmed the organization's headcount.