SF Giants tab young pitcher for what they hope is the beginning of a redemption season

The SF Giants hope that young starter Hayden Birdsong can bounce back from a tough season in 2025. That potential redemption arc begins this weekend, as he was tabbed to open spring training for the club, per Shayna Rubin of The San Francisco Chronicle.

SF Giants tab young pitcher for what they hope is the beginning of a redemption season

Teams usually give out the first start of spring training with some intent. It is not a random selection, but it is usually handed out to a young pitcher.

Sometimes, it is a reward for making a good impression last year, whether that was in the majors or minors. Other times, it is to let a pitcher know that they are still on their team’s radar. 

It was more of the former last year, as Landen Roupp took the hill for the Giants in the first Cactus League game. He went on to win a rotation spot out of camp and put up a 3.80 ERA across 22 starts. Oddly enough, the Giants faced off against the Texas Rangers in that game, with Tyler Mahle taking that start. Of course, he is now a member of the Giants after signing a one-year deal during the offseason.

Hayden Birdsong will be looking to bounce back in 2026. Some folks have been asking what role the Giants plan to use him in this season. New bullpen coach Jesse Chavez believes that if there is a question about a role, then it is best to build them up to start and adjust roles as needs change.

To some degree, the Giants did that with Birdsong last spring. They built him up to start, then shifted him to the bullpen to begin the season. When there was an opening in the rotation, they shifted Birdsong back to the rotation and he struggled after that.

This felt like a misstep by the Giants, and even Birdsong hinted that shifting back to the rotation was more difficult than he expected. If they view a young pitcher as a starter, then it is best to get their innings total up, whether that is in the majors or minors. 

Birdsong had a promising rookie campaign, pitching to a 4.75 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 43 walks in 72 innings in 2024. The control was a work in progress, but he showed the ability to get major league hitters to swing and miss at a high rate. That is often one of the best indicators of potential and success for young pitchers. 

The 24-year-old pitcher followed that up with a 4.80 ERA in 21 outings last season. The strikeout rate was still solid at 9.3 K/9, but not nearly as high as the year prior. The control showed no improvement, and he finished the year in Triple-A. 

Outside of Logan Webb, there are durability question marks across the rotation. They will need to fill in the gaps internally when injuries or underperformance with the main group occurs. With a strong spring, Birdsong can position himself to become one of the first alternatives when a need on the rotation emerges.