SF Giants manager Bob Melvin sheds light on projected workload for a pair of young starting pitchers

Both Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong checked off an important box in terms of building up arm strength in 2024. SF Giants manager Bob Melvin believes that the guardrails are now off for both pitchers in terms of workload.

SF Giants manager Bob Melvin sheds light on projected workload for a pair of young starting pitchers

Melvin joined Joe Shasky and Joe Spadoni on 95.7's The Morning Roast Show to discuss several topics relating to spring training. He was asked how the team plans to use both Harrison and Birdsong:

"Last year, the workloads in previous years weren't as high. We feel like we got them to a point last year where the guardrails are off... We feel like up to 150 innings with everybody. With the younger guys, and obviously, with Robbie Ray, [Logan] Webby, and [Justin] Verlander leading the way. Jordan Hicks is in a much better place as a starter. "

Bob Melvin

Landen Roupp also got a shoutout from Melvin as he has arguably been the best arm in Giants camp so far.

In the past, the Giants have been pretty conservative with managing the workload for young pitchers. This includes someone like Harrison, who rarely threw more than five innings in any start during his time in the minors. This has led to a slow build-up in arm strength, which was also done to protect the pitcher's arm.

This is one of the many areas where the current front office will likely contrast with the prior regime. They will want starters to pitch deeper into games and have more innings in their arm, so they are ready once promoted.

Harrison and Birdsong will be the litmus test for that strategy. Harrison set a career-high as a pro with 124.1 innings pitched in 2024. That should be enough for the Giants to safely stretch him out to 150 innings as Melvin indicated.

The same could be said for Birdsong. He completed 129.1 frames split between the majors and minors last season. Both pitchers are competing for the final spot in the rotation along with Roupp. Whether those innings occur in the minors or majors, it is important that they get stretched out.

It probably bears mentioning that 150 innings is kind of the new benchmark in today's game. Fewer and fewer pitchers are like Logan Webb, who aims to throw 200 innings each year. Now, a full workload is closer to 25 starts and 150 innings. If the Giants can get their young pitchers to that mark, the year will be a success in that regard.