SF Giants could have a sneaky strength heading into 2025 season

As the SF Giants are about to play Cactus League games, their 40-man roster does not have any glaring holes or overwhelming strengths. However, the Giants could have a sneaky strength with their starting pitching depth going into the season.

San Francisco's pitching coach J.P. Martinez recently said that he thinks the team will have 15 or 16 legitimate starting pitchers on their staff going into camp. While that number may be a little inflated, it is not as hyperbolic to say that the Giants may very well have 10 legit starters going into the year.

SF Giants have sneaky strength in starting pitching depth

If one takes a look at the pitchers currently on the team's 40-man roster, it is clear they have a lot of guys who could potentially start games for the team. There is the likely starting rotation of Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, Jordan Hicks, and Kyle Harrison. Then, after them you have names like Hayden Birdsong, Landen Roupp, Mason Black, Tristan Beck, Spencer Bivens, and Keaton Winn, all of whom have started games for the Giants in the past.

Beyond them are pitchers who have not started games with the Giants but have started plenty of games in the minor leagues like Carson Ragsdale, Carson Seymour, and Trevor McDonald. Throw in non-roster invites like top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt and veteran Joey Lucchesi and you can see how Martinez arrived at a number approaching 15.

The fact that the Giants have this much depth is obviously a good thing. While San Francisco has the game's preeminent workhorse in Logan Webb, there are plenty of question marks in the rotation beyond him. Ray has not had a full season since 2022, Verlander is going to be 42 soon and dealt with injuries last season, and both Hicks and Harrison were shut down before the end of 2024 due to injuries.

It seems highly likely that the Giants are going to have to draw on their starting pitching depth in 2025 so it is a good thing they have a wealth of arms to rely upon. Names like Roupp and Birdsong will surely be the first ones to be put in the rotation should the opportunity arise given their impressive showings in 2024. Black and Winn are probably in tier two given the fact that they mostly struggled last season.

But do not be shocked if someone like Whisenhunt is given an opportunity this season. He could end up being a key fixture of the rotation going forward so perhaps this is the year he makes his debut.

One hopes the Giants have a strong starting rotation in 2025 that is not hampered by injury, but if issues do arise then they can draw on their hidden strength of starting pitching depth to fill in the holes.