Three SF Giants Triple-A Prospects are pushing for a rotation spot early on

The SF Giants have quietly formed one of the better rotations in all of minor league baseball when it comes to the staff at Triple-A Sacramento. With no moves being made to the big league rotation as we approach May, the front office appears content with how things are going.

However, with the grind of a 162-game season, moves will have to be made whether it's due to injury or poor performance. When they inevitably are made, a trio of intriguing arms are making strong cases to be the first to get the call. Here's a look at three River Cats pitchers making a push to join San Francisco's rotation.

Three SF Giants Triple-A prospects pushing for a rotation spot early

1. Kyle Harrison

Left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison isn't your typical "prospect" as he spent all of 2024 with the big league club and entered spring training as the probable number five starter. However, after a dip in velocity towards the end of last season and an illness that set back his spring, he lost the job to Landen Roupp.

A now-healthy Harrison is showing what made him the number one left-handed pitching prospect in all of baseball just a year ago. Over five starts and 21 innings, he's pitched to the tune of a 3.86 ERA. There are two areas that are extremely encouraging. For one, his strikeout rate is back up to an elite 13.29 K/9 after falling to a mere 8.54 throughout 2024. Second, the velocity on his fastball has jumped over an entire mile an hour, from 92.5 mph last year to 93.7 mph this year. If a spot is open, Harrison could find himself back in San Francisco soon.

2. Carson Whisenhunt

Carson Whisenhunt is the organization's top pitching prospect and is looking like it. While he is coming off a blowup outing last week, his overall performance this season has been encouraging. The southpaw out of ECU boasts one of the, if not the, best changeups in all of minor league baseball.

A major step for Whisenhunt in 2025 has been his command. His walk rate (BB%) is down to just 5 percent, his best mark since 2022 in Single-A. While the slider remains a work in progress, having a true third pitch could turn Whisenhunt from a promising prospect into a polished product. It would be no surprise if we see Whisenhunt make his MLB debut at some point in 2025.

3. Carson Seymour

Carson Seymour was at risk of being lost in the Rule 5 Draft last year before the Giants opted to protect him by adding him to the 40-man roster, which seems to be paying off. Through the start of 2025, he has been nothing short of spectacular.

Through six starts and a total of 28 innings, Seymour has posted a very impressive 1.93 ERA and has yet to allow a home run, no easy feat in the hitter-dominant Pacific Coast League. He's clearly shown a knack for keeping the ball on the ground, posting a ground ball rate close to 60 percent. While Seymour's strikeout numbers won't blow anybody away, his ability to limit damage and avoid runs make him a valuable depth option. If he continues delivering consistent outings, the organization might not be able to ignore him for long.

With no changes to the MLB staff thus far, it's only a matter of time before the Giants alter their rotation. Whether it's an injury or a prolonged slump, the Giants are fortunate to have three different, but equally compelling options waiting in Sacramento. Harrison provides experience, Whisenhunt brings upside, and Seymour boasts consistency. Any, or all, of these three could be in the mix in San Francisco at some point this season, but only time will tell.