The SF Giants made a bit of a splash by signing veteran starting pitcher Justin Verlander to a one-year contract. It will be interesting to see what the future member of Cooperstown has left in the tank, but his tutelage of younger pitchers could be just as valuable.
Once the signing was announced, there were immediate comparisons drawn between the Giants signing Verlander at this stage in his career and the Giants signing Randy Johnson ahead of the 2009 season. Like Johnson, Verlander is getting near the end of his career and probably does not have another Cy Young-caliber year left in him.
Yet, his brain has accumulated so much knowledge on pitching and how to get guys out that even if his arm is not what it used to be, he will still be able to get batters out with his brain.
Young SF Giants flamethrower could benefit most from Verlander signing
President of baseball operations Buster Posey did not sign Verlander thinking he would be the team's ace or that he will start 30 games for the team. He most likely believes Verlander can still help the team win games while also serving as a valuable resource to the team's young pitching staff.
The staff as a whole will benefit from Verlander's knowledge, but one pitcher in particular seems likely to benefit the most from Verlander's tutelage and that is Jordan Hicks. The reliever-turned-starter made the transition from bullpen to rotation last year and looked very good early on. He arguably looked like the best starter on the team in April, but as the season wore on his velocity dipped and it was clear he was getting worn down. He found himself back in the bullpen by the end of the season, but Posey has committed to having Hicks back in the rotation in 2025.
Hicks would benefit from a mentor like Verlander who knows how to manage the workload of a full season. He understands how to best prepare your body for the rigors of a full season and how to be effective while not maxing out on every pitch and wearing your arm out.
The soon to be 42-year-old also understands how to mix things up the second or third time through the batting order, something Hicks never had to worry about when he was a flamethrower coming out of the bullpen. Hicks can learn how to keep opposing batters guessing deep into games so he does not become too predictable.
Young pitchers like Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong, and Landen Roupp will obviously also benefit greatly from having Verlander around. But because Hicks is still trying to make the transition from the bullpen, he seems to have the most to gain from picking Verlander's brain.
Let's hope Verlander pitches well and also helps pitchers like Hicks reach their full potential and become consistent contributors for the team.