SF Giants reunite with pitcher with local ties on minor league deal

The SF Giants added some pitching depth to the upper minors earlier this week. They reunited with Drew Strotman on a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants reunite with pitcher with local ties on minor league deal

This will be the second straight year that Strotman pitches for the Giants organization. Plus, it will be a return to familiar territory as he was born in Sunnyvale, California, and he attended St. Mary's College before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.

For a brief moment in time after the 2022 season, the right-handed pitcher occupied a spot on the Giants' 40-man roster after he was claimed off of waivers from the Texas Rangers. He was designated for assignment shortly thereafter but remained with the organization on a minor league deal.

In seven minor league seasons, Strotman has posted a 4.87 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, and a 1.80 SO/W rate. He did work primarily out of the rotation earlier in his pro career, but he has shifted to the bullpen in recent seasons.

During his first stint with the organization, the 27-year-old pitcher tallied a 6.47 ERA in 32 appearances, including 13 starts, while striking out nearly as many batters (96) as innings pitched (97.1.)

The minor league pitcher joined the Houston Astros on a minor league deal in the winter. During his time with Houston, he registered a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings split across two minor league affiliates. Strotman was released by the Astros organization at the end of July, but he was not a free agent for long.

He joined the Giants organization and has already completed one scoreless outing with the Sacramento River Cats.

On the mound, Strotman features a mid-90's fastball with a slider and a cutter. He uses both a sinker and a four-seam fastball, so he has a couple of different looks with the fastball. The cutter is his go-to pitch and the one where his control is the best, but overall, he has below-average control.

Strotman joins a River Cats team that has been a strong contender in the Pacific Coast League with a 58-47 overall record.