Surprising former SF Giants pitcher may have a shot to make Astros rotation

The SF Giants are trying to sort out their own roster ahead of Opening Day, but we here at Around the Foghorn like to keep tabs on some familiar faces around the league. That is why it is noteworthy that former Giant Kai-Wei Teng is having a strong spring training and might even snag a spot in the Houston Astros starting rotation.

The Giants traded Teng to the Astros in the offseason to make room for Harrison Bader on the 40-man roster, but the Astros clearly had interest in Teng since they were willing to give up a pretty decent prospect to get him in catcher Jancel Villaroel.

Astros are high on former Giants pitcher Kai-Wei Teng

Houston clearly saw something in Teng even though he posted a 6.37 ERA in 30 innings with the Giants last season. Despite that ghastly ERA, Teng did have some solid outings with the Giants and he did have 39 strikeouts which shows he can get big league hitters to swing and miss at his stuff.

That belief has shown itself in spring training as the 27-year-old has a 3.12 ERA in 8 and 2/3 innings pitched. He has made one start while his other three appearances have been out of the bullpen so Houston seems to view him as more of a long reliever, but maybe if there are some injuries Teng could work his way into the rotation.

He was primarily a starter in the minor leagues with the Giants so that is obviously his preference. Yet, he has said he values the experience he got with the Giants as a bullpen arm and he could be a valuable arm that eats up innings for Houston and provides the team a spot start when necessary.

In a perfect world, the Giants probably would have liked to keep Teng because of the old adage “you can never have enough pitching.” But the Giants already have a pretty large contingent of young starting pitchers so Teng was simply the odd man out as the Giants were trying to make room for Bader.

Guys like Trevor McDonald, Carson Seymour, and Blade Tidwell have all show in spring training that the Giants have some solid young pitchers who can step into the rotation if necessary should there be an injury.

The Giants and Astros will face off in August so maybe the Giants will get to go up against an old friend in that series.