Top SF Giants pitching prospect added to the active roster

The SF Giants promoted a top pitching prospect ahead of the series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Pitching Keaton Winn was called up on Monday, whereas Tristan Beck was optioned according to the team's transaction log.

Top SF Giants pitching prospect added to the active roster

Beck had pitched in three of the last five games, allowing just one earned run across five innings. However, the Giants are beginning a six-game road trip and Beck likely would have been unavailable for the first two games, so they went with a fresher arm in Winn.

Winn will get his first chance in the majors after being added to the 40-man roster this past winter. That decision was a minor surprise given that the 25-year-old had returned from Tommy John surgery midway through the 2022 season.

Due to the surgery and the canceled 2020 season, Winn nearly went three years between professional appearances when he returned last year. He posted a 4.08 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, and a 3.91 SO/W ratio across three levels. During the long layoff, Winn added several ticks to his fastball velocity while featuring one of the better splitters in the organization.

The numbers may not exactly show it, but the righty has been solid in Triple-A this year as he has tallied a 4.35 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, and a 2.43 SO/W ratio in 12 outings for the Sacramento River Cats. This includes a 50.9 perceny ground ball rate.

The splitter consistently gets swinging strikes and he has a few ways in which he can beat opposing hitters whether it be by way of the strikeout or ground out. The Giants plan to use Winn in a bulk innings role, but it would be nice to see what he can do with a couple of starts. He is considered one of the Giants' better pitching prospects.

On the other hand, Beck received the short end of the stick again. This is his second time being optioned. Though, performance has not been the issue. It is more about flexibility and Beck carries three minor league options, so the Giants will leverage that when needed.

The 26-year-old has tallied a 3.73 ERA, 4.23 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, and a 5.60 SO/W rate in 13 appearances with the Giants. He has served as a bulk innings reliever and has done a nice job, especially considering that innings in this role can be sporadic. Nevertheless, he will return sooner rather than later as the need for pitching will always be present.