SF Giants lose starting pitching prospect in waiver claim to the Baltimore Orioles

The SF Giants hoped that they could sneak starting pitching prospect Carson Ragsdale through waivers. However, that did not come to fruition as he was claimed off of waivers by the Baltimore Orioles according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants lose starting pitching prospect in waiver claim to the Baltimore Orioles

Sean Hjelle also cleared waivers and was sent outright to Sacramento. It was his first time through the waiver wire, so he did not have an option to reject a minor league assignment.

The Giants designated Ragsdale for assignment last week to make room for Carson Whisenhunt on the 40-man roster. They had protected him from the Rule 5 draft by adding him to the 40-man roster last offseason. He did not get a chance to pitch for the club before being claimed off of waivers by the Orioles.

The Giants originally acquired Ragsdale in a trade that sent Sam Coonrod to the Philadelphia Phillies. He was a fourth-round pick by the Phillies in the 2020 draft, so it felt like a nice value move by the Giants.

With the San Jose Giants in 2021, Ragdale posted a 4.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 13.2 K/9, and a 3.71 SO/W rate in 24 starts. His 167 strikeouts led all minor league pitchers that season.

Unfortunately, injuries, including undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, wiped away most of the next two years. Ragsdale was healthy in 2024 and had a rebound year.

The 27-year-old pitcher pitched to a 4.18 ERA with 147 strikeouts in 120.2 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A. This did include a 5.03 ERA in 13 outings with the Sacramento River Cats. As is the case with many pitchers, throwing in the Pacific Coast League proved to be a tough challenge.

That said, Ragsdale did show a healthy mid-90's four-seam fastball with a curveball and splitter. The four-seamer did not overwhelm with velocity, but it played up due to above-average extension from his release point. The curveball and splitter were quality offerings, with whiff rates around 27 percent.

Ragsdale struggled in his second turn through Triple-A this season. He pitched to a 5.37 ERA in 18 appearances while seeing a notable decline in his strikeout rate. There was also a notable decrease in his four-seam velocity to 92.5 MPH this year, and it was not missing nearly as many bats. That is problematic for a pitch he throws over 50 percent of the time.

Joining the Orioles organization should be a good opportunity for Ragsdale. At 50-60, the Orioles have put together a disappointing 2025 campaign and have struggled in many facets of the game, including with the pitching staff. This could open the door for Ragsdale to make his debut sooner rather than later.