SF Giants southpaw pitcher begins rehab assignment with the San Jose Giants

The SF Giants could be getting a boost in their bullpen soon. On Sunday, veteran southpaw pitcher Sam Hentges began a rehab assignment with the San Jose Giants, pitching a scoreless inning in a 3-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide.

SF Giants southpaw pitcher begins rehab assignment with the San Jose Giants

The bullpen got off to a solid start through the first week, but has hit a speed bump lately. That is not all that surprising, given that the Giants returned many of the same arms from the bullpen at the end of last year. At that point, the bullpen had become a liability.

Through two weeks, there is not much of a bullpen hierarchy. Tony Vitello is leaning on Keaton Winn and Erik Miller for leverage spots. He is also hoping that Ryan Walker can return to form after a down season in 2025. How they plan to preserve leads and close out games remains a mystery.

The left side of the bullpen is flush with options, but light on productivity thus far. Miller has struggled to get outs while battling control issues. Ryan Borucki has proven to be effective against left-handed hitters, but has struggled badly against right-handed bats. That will be tough for Vitello to navigate in the three-batter-minimum era.

Matt Gage has been surprisingly effective as a situational lefty. It is evident that Vitello has confidence in the veteran reliever.

When the Giants sketched out this year's bullpen, they hoped that Sam Hentges would play a critical role. With the way that unit is shaping out, there is a chance for him to pitch himself into a setup role.

For now, the Giants hope that Hentges can progress throughout his rehab assignment without any setbacks. Hentges did not appear in a game for San Francisco during the Cactus League, so this could be a lengthy assignment. Typically, relievers need 6 - 8 appearances to build up enough arm strength to be ready for the season, but they may just decide to cut that short and have him finish ramping up after a handful of rehab outings.

The 29-year-old pitcher has posted a 4.18 ERA across four seasons with the Cleveland Guardians. He has been even better than that since moving to the bullpen, recording a 2.93 ERA since 2022. He has not appeared in a major league game since 2024 due to a combination of shoulder and knee injuries.