SAN FRANCISCO —It wasn’t too long ago that manager Bob Melvin, having been swept by the Padres at home in mid-August, mentioned the idea of giving his regulars some days off and getting looks at younger players. With the Giants in the midst of a six-game winning streak, those plans are likely on hold.
On Sept. 1, the Giants’ brass will have to decide which two players they select from Triple-A Sacramento to join the big-league roster as rosters expand from 26 to 28. With San Francisco still mathematically alive, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and company may find themselves leaning towards players more equipped to win now.
Here’s a look at the most compelling candidates to be called up when the rosters expand:
(All stats are entering Friday)
Marco Luciano
The Giants have had plenty of opportunities to call up Marco Luciano over the last couple months, especially after having the 23-year-old transition from infield to outfield in the offseason. With less than 30 games remaining, Luciano is still waiting for his first opportunity to play in the majors this season.
Luciano hasn’t exactly dominated with Sacramento, but he’s hit well enough at times to warrant a look with San Francisco.
Overall, Luciano has an .801 OPS with 22 homers and has been nine percent better than league average, by weighted runs created plus (wRC+). Since July, specifically, Luciano is hitting .250/.409/.569 with 10 homers and, by wRC+, has been 49 percent better than league average.
Luciano would’ve likely had a more compelling case to be called up if Luis Matos was struggling, but Matos is 13-for-30 (.433) with three homers and seven RBIs since being recalled from Sacramento.
Jesus Rodriguez
The Giants received four prospects from the New York Yankees in exchange for Camilo Doval, the most intriguing of the bunch being catcher Jesus Rodriguez.
Rodriguez didn’t have many opportunities to catch during his time in the Yankees’ system due to the franchise’s plethora of catching prospects, but he hit well enough that he played around the diamond so the Yankees could get his bat in the lineup. A lifetime .306 hitter in the minors, Rodriguez has also spent time at first base, second base, third base and left field.
Rodriguez is hitting .317/.417/.415 with one homer and eight RBIs over his last 10 games, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Giants keep Rodriguez in Triple-A so he can continue getting reps at catcher.
Hayden Birdsong
For months, Hayden Birdsong appeared to have made significant strides with his control. He didn’t walk a single batter during spring training, then continued to minimize walks for roughly the first three months of the season. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Birdsong lost his command and ended up back in Triple-A.
Birdsong’s issues with command have persisted with Sacramento. He appeared to make strides by only walking four batters over 12 1/3 innings during his first three starts with the River Cats. By contrast, during his last three starts Birdsong has walked 12 batters over 12 innings.
JT Brubaker
The Giants signed JT Brubaker to a minor-league deal in mid-August after he was released by the Yankees, and it’s not an outlandish proposition that Brubaker makes a start or two for San Francisco in September.
Brubaker, 31, has pitched in four major-league seasons, missing all of ’23 due to Tommy John surgery and spending all of ’24 in the Yankees’ minor-league system. He’s made a pair of starts for Sacramento after being used solely as a reliever for the Yankees, allowing two runs over nine innings in those two outings.
Blade Tidwell
Tidwell was part of the return from the New York Mets in exchange for Tyler Rogers, the others being right-handed José Buttó and outfielder Drew Gilbert. If not for an injury, Tidwell likely would’ve already made his Giants debut.
The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 1.69 ERA in his first three starts with Sacramento, striking out 23 batters over 16 innings, but experienced shoulder discomfort during a bullpen session following his start on Aug. 15.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey said on KNBR that Tidwell is “moving in the right direction” and working on a throwing progression.
“He’s obviously a guy we’re excited about, but we want to make sure that he’s, from a health standpoint, in a good place and doesn’t rush back,” Posey said. “It’s a big arm and somebody that we’re excited to continue to watch as he progresses. All signs seem positive there.”
Tidwell features a deep arsenal of pitching, the core four being his four-seam fastball, sinker, sweeper and slider. Along with those offerings, Tidwell has also flashed a changeup and cutter.
Bryce Eldridge
There’s been no shortage of fans clamoring for top prospect Bryce Eldridge to make his major-league debut. Those voices continue to grow louder every time Eldridge homers.
The only voice that matters, though, is Posey’s and he has repeatedly thrown cold water on the possibility of Eldridge making his debut this season.
“I’d say most likely not,” Posey said on KNBR’s The Murph and Marcus Show. “I feel like I’ve said it 100 times, but Bryce is still 20. He’s still getting his reps as a first baseman. He’s getting his reps as a hitter. Like everybody else, (you) watch the amount of power that Bryce has. It’s hard not to get excited about.
“Talking to Bryce a little bit back in spring training and then listening to how our minor-league staff talks about him, we know that he wants to be a complete player and he’s working on that.”
