SF Giants need a pair of young starting pitchers to take another step forward in 2025

Regardless of whether the SF Giants address the starting rotation this winter, the majority of that unit is likely already in place. If that area is going to be successful next season, they will need both Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong to take another step forward.

SF Giants need a pair of young starting pitchers to take another step forward in 2025

The rotation is in an odd spot. It was not a strength in 2024 as they pitched to a 4.22 ERA, which was 18th in baseball. Though, they will return many of the same faces and there is a possibility that Blake Snell exits via free agency.

Despite Logan Webb putting together another quality campaign and Snell being arguably the best starter in the second half of the season, the rotation was neither a strength nor a weakness. If they lose Snell, that area could look even weaker on paper in 2025.

In addition to Webb, Harrison, and Birdsong, the Giants also have Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks in the mix. Hicks is a bit of a wild card given that he can work out of the rotation and the bullpen. That said, the latter option is not ideal given how much money they already have committed to the bullpen.

They will need Webb to continue to be a workhorse and they will hope that Ray is much more effective on the mound after being another year removed from Tommy John surgery. However, much of the improvement will likely need to come from both Harrison and Birdsong.

They both showed flashes of mid-rotation upside even if they struggled with the consistency needed to be a starter. Harrison registered a 4.56 ERA, 4.33 FIP, 1.34 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, and a 2.81 SO/W rate in 24 starts in 2024.

The good news was that he completed 124.1 innings, thus building up his arm strength to pitch even deeper into next season. He did begin to have more confidence in his secondary pitchers as the season progressed. Plus, the control showed some improvement but it came at the cost of being a bit too hittable.

The Giants need him to show more of the swing-and-miss ability that he flashed as a rookie in 2023. For one reason or another, that was not as prevalent last season. As mentioned above, this could have been a function of his improved ability to stay in the strike zone. At times, it felt like some Giants pitchers got too comfortable in the zone and left a pitch or two in the middle of the plate.

On the other hand, Birdsong had some solid stretches on the mound this season. He posted a 4.75 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 1.38 WHIP, 11.0 K/9, and a 2.05 SO/W rate in 16 starts. The 23-year-old pitcher flashed a quality four-pitch mix with a mid-90's fastball, curveball, changeup, and slider.

Birdsong was able to get swinging strikes using all four of his pitches. Though, his overall numbers were hurt by below-average control. That trait will need to improve in 2025. If it does, he could pretty quickly become one of the team's better starters.

Both pitchers built up enough arm strength this season to the point where workload restrictions will likely be less of an issue going forward. They each experienced the ups and downs of being a young pitcher in the majors and there were some positives along the way. If the rotation is going to be a strength next year, the Giants will need Harrison and Birdsong to help Webb lead the way.