SF Giants non-roster invitee boasts the best fastball velocity in camp

Who has had the best fastball velocity in SF Giants camp so far? I know that is a question that has kept you all up at night. At 99.2 MPH, that distinction belongs to non-roster invitee Gregory Santos.

SF Giants non-roster invitee boasts the best fastball velocity in camp

The bullpen is the biggest question mark heading into the season. Not just in terms of how it will perform, but the composition as well.

You can start to back into what the bullpen might look like based on a few factors, such as contract status, minor league options remaining, and 2026 expectations. JT Brubaker is the only player under a guaranteed contract for 2026. The Giants tendered him a deal for 2026 in the offseason.

Brubaker is a good bet to make the bullpen. He has put up respectable numbers, too, allowing three earned runs on four strikeouts and four walks in six Cactus League frames.

The rest of the group are pre-arbitration or in camp on minor league deals. In the case of the pre-arbitration players, they will have their contracts renewed for this season. That step usually happens around this time of year.

José Buttó and Matt Gage are out of options, so if they do not make the club, they will need to be placed on waivers. Gage is one of the few healthy lefty relievers, so his odds for making the team are strong.

Buttó has posted a 3.56 ERA across four major league seasons. He has a starter's pitch mix, but he does not strikeout many batters (8.7 K/9) and allows a few too many free passes (4.6 BB/9). Buttó is likely best suited as a middle reliever. The Giants will likely retain him to start the year, but if he struggles, they may need to make a move.

The Giants expect Ryan Walker and Erik Miller to be key members of the bullpen. Miller has been slowed by a back ailment this spring, but should be appearing in Cactus League games soon. Spencer Bivens could return in a bulk innings role, and that is likely the best role for him, but he also has minor league options remaining. That might be used against him for the Opening Day roster.

If the Giants begin the year with Bivens, that now gives them six relievers in the Opening Day bullpen. Brubaker, Gage, Buttó, Walker, and Miller are the other five. Assuming they keep eight relievers, that leaves open two spots.

I think one of the big problems with this iteration of the bullpen is that there are too many middle relievers and not enough leverage arms. Gregory Santos has the upside to be a leverage arm. Ability has rarely been the issue, but staying on the mound has been.

Santos has flashed the type of velocity that would lend itself to a leverage role this spring. Along with this, he has a power slider that has been tough for opposing batters to hit.

In parts of five seasons, Santos has posted a 4.17 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.42 WHIP, 8/0 K/9, and a 2.48 SO/W rate. He has only reached double-digit innings once in his career. This spring, Santos has tallied two scoreless appearances.

The righty reliever is not the only one who has been lighting up the radar gun. Caleb Kilian's four-seamer has averaged 97.6 MPH this spring. For a bullpen that is light on premium velocity, this should stick out to the Giants.