SF Giants observations: Who’s trending up, down through 10 Cactus League games?

GLENDALE, Arizona — With a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday, the Giants have played 10 Cactus League games. It’s a small sample size and should be taken with a grain of salt, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t valuable information packed into the first 90 innings of Giants spring baseball.

The calculus is already shifting as far as who’s making a case for the Opening Day roster. Projected starters Hayden Birdsong and Carson Whisenhunt have struggled, but Blade Tidwell and Trevor McDonald have both made strong impressions. There’s also a non-roster invitee who can’t stop racking up the hits.

There are three weeks of exhibitions remaining, and a lot can change between now and Opening Night against the New York Yankees on March 25. But here are some players who are trending up and trending down:

Trending up: Blade Tidwell

If the Giants were hosting a completely open competition for their rotation, Tidwell has looked deserving of a starting spot. With San Francisco’s rotation full, Tidwell is positioning himself for the next best thing: grab a job on the Opening Day roster as a reliever.

Tidwell made a strong first impression to begin Cactus League play, throwing a scoreless inning with three strikeouts. The right-hander allowed two runs over two innings in his second appearance but generated nine whiffs, six being with his sweeper.

The 24-year-old Tidwell is slated to pitch multiple innings when the Giants host Team USA in an exhibition ahead of the World Baseball Classic, and he can further improve his stock if he performs well against a lineup full of All-Stars and superstars.

Trending down: Hayden Birdsong

It’s still very early, but Birdsong just hasn’t looked good in Cactus League play. He’s faced 14 batters, recorded four outs and allowed eight runs.

In his first appearance, he retired one batter and allowed five runs. In his second, he surrendered three more runs and only pitched one inning despite being slated for two. It’s also worth noting that Birdsong will not pitch against Team USA on Tuesday despite pitching on the same day as Tidwell in their first two appearances.

“I just don’t think he came away throwing the ball as well as he can,” Vitello said following Birdsong’s outing against the Rockies. “He’s certainly got good stuff — that’s kind of been beat up ad nauseam — but I think as far as watching body language, presence, how he threw the ball, I think he’s capable of better.”

Trending up: Trevor McDonald

McDonald turned heads last September during his short stint with the team, and he’s continued to do so this spring. Following an impressive showing leading up to games, McDonald has pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and has only allowed one baserunner (via hit by pitch).

Trending down: Carson Whisenhunt

Whisenhunt lit up the radar gun in a simulated game leading up to Cactus League games, but the left-hander has gotten hit around to begin the spring.

Through two outings, the 25-year-old has allowed nine earned runs while retiring just eight batters. Whisenhunt’s velocity spike is unquestionably very encouraging and could raise his ceiling as a starting pitcher if he’s able to sustain that premium gas. But as far as making the team out of camp? It’s been a rocky start.

Trending up: Caleb Kilian

Kilian was drafted in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Giants out of Texas Tech before San Francisco traded him to the Chicago Cubs (along with Alexander Canario) for Kris Bryant. In his second stint with San Francisco, Kilian is already making waves as a non-roster invite. Along with pitching three scoreless innings, Kilian’s stuff and velocity has looked excellent.

Trending down: Drew Gilbert

The Giants added another name to the fourth outfielder competition at the start of camp, signing Will Brennan to a one-year major-league deal. Brennan’s experience in the majors (269 games) made him a compelling candidate to make the roster over Gilbert, and the 25-year-old has had a fine spring so far, going 4-for-12 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, three runs and three walks. Gilbert, meanwhile, is dealing with a left shoulder impingement and won’t throw for most of this week.

Trending up: Victor Bericoto

Bericoto, in all likelihood, isn’t a serious candidate to make the Opening Day roster after spending almost all of last season with Double-A Richmond. Still, few players in camp have made a stronger impression than Bericoto, who signed with the Giants out of Venezuela in 2018.

Over seven games, the 24-year-old Bericoto is 8-for-15 (.533) with two homers and nine RBIs. Last week, Bericoto hit a no-doubt grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking a well-deserved moment to admire his work before rounding the bases.

Trending down: Erik Miller

Left-hander Sam Hentges, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal to join the Giants this offseason, has already been doubtful for the Opening Day roster, but Miller’s status now also appears to be more up in the air as well.

The 28-year-old Miller, who missed the second half of last season with a left elbow sprain, is currently dealing with lower back tightness that’s limiting him to throwing off flat ground. It’s unclear when Miller will make his Cactus League debut, and it’s possible that he’s not ready for the start of the season.

Trending up: Patrick Bailey

Few players in the Giants’ clubhouse know the strike zone as well as Bailey, and the two-time Gold Glove Award winner has already proven himself proficient at turning balls into strikes with the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge. Entering Monday, Bailey’s five successful challenges are the most among catchers in the Cactus League.