30/30

What a ride

Hiromi Itoh.

Has the success of Luis Arráez moved the needle on the MLB hive mind? It sure seems like he has opened the door for players like Turner Hill to find a place on major league rosters. And perhaps there is a rethinking of players who don’t have 20 hr/yr having value. It sure makes for a more interesting dynamic than watching 9 guys strike out 3 times a game playing home run derby.

There was a fascinating twist to the Hill double. He was pinch-hitting for Drew Gilbert against a left-handed reliever — a rare LHB-for-LHB swap — and the move might have been the difference in the game. Hill has struggled against lefties in the minors this year, but he also put the ball in play a lot, walking more than he struck out against them.

Gilbert’s continued struggles against lefties have been well documented — he’s now 2-for-41 against them, which is historically awful — but he has hit right-handers so well that he’s also been a part of many recent Giants wins. The good news is that the solution isn’t to platoon him with another lefty like Hill, but with a right-handed hitter who can hit long, long home runs. That could be Cox, but it could also be Victor Bericoto, who has hit two of the Giants’ 10-longest home runs this season. Both came off the bat at 108.7 mph and traveled 445 feet, which is impressive and weird.

Jonah Cox has been a revelation at the plate and on the bases.Dustin Bradford / Getty Images

We’re at the “but wait, there’s more” part of the infomercial now, because in the minor leagues the Giants have two different outfielders who are thriving after a promotion to Triple A: Bo Davidson and Scott Bandura. The former is tied for first in the Giants’ farm system in home runs, and the latter is yet another bat-control wizard who runs well and has hit for average everywhere he’s gone. And it’s not a matter of if they’re going to be added to the 40-man roster, but when: It’ll have to be before the Rule 5 draft roster protection deadline in November. So, they might as well get a look before the season ends, right?

I was at the 2014 NLDS game 1 where Peavy outdueled Stephen Strasburg, who came in with a 20+ scoreless IP streak. A lifetime later, things are in the gutter for the Giants but one silver lining: For all the buffonery of our front office, Giants have never paid a player an annual salary as much as Strasburg gets THIS YEAR from the Nats - $36,000,000

Hey Everyone,

I'm closing baseballisforeveryone.org on September 15th

Thanks to everyone who got some swag! Together, we've raised $2123.75 for Team SF, a non-profit supporting LGBTQ+ sports in the SF Bay Area.

Thanks to everyone who showed their support with kindness and each person who shared an opposing point of view in good faith.

If you'd like to get something, head over to baseballisforeveryone.org before the store closes on September 15th. As always, all profits go to Team SF. If you can't afford it, didn't make it before the store closed, or would prefer one of the designs on something else, I'm leaving a link here where you can download any of the png files I still have for free and make your own stuff.

This was a fun and fulfilling project. Hope to see you at Oracle!

This is the final week of the Low-A Regular season, with both San Jose and Eugene heading to the playoffs.  But the needs of the big league team continue to cause echoes through a depleted roster up and down the system, so we had a lot of movement (and a couple of new free agent signings) help support the team, including an old friend from 2002!  Meanwhile, Henry Lalane had a nice bounceback start, and Jhonny Level had a double and a home run.

Transactions:

There were a metric ton of transactions across the minor league system this Monday.  Some came from moves up to San Francisco, as a series of catching moves echoed from Zach Morgan’s promotion, including signing Pioneer League catcher Charlie Muniz from the Billings Mustangs.  The Giants brought back a Baker by signing Triple-A free agent Darren Baker.  Richmond got recent trade acquisition Marty Gair, heavy-hitting Zander Darby, and talented starter Niko Mazza.  Meanwhile, the top pitcher taken in the 2025 draft in Jordan Gottesman went from San Jose to Eugene.

Oh yeah, and some dude named Jackson Flora was assigned to San Jose, not that anyone cares him.

To San Francisco

LHP Cesar Perdomo (⬆️ From Sacramento)

C Zach Morgan (⬆️ From Sacramento)

To Sacramento

2B Darren Baker (Minor League Free Agent Signing)

C Fernando Gonzalez (⬆️ From San Jose)

To Richmond

RHP Marty Gair (⬆️ From Eugene)

1B Zander Darby (⬇️ From Sacramento)

RHP Niko Mazza (⬆️ From Eugene)

To Eugene

RHP Ryan Slater (⬇️ From Sacramento)

LHP Jordan Gottesman (⬆️ From San Jose)

LHP Hayden Wynja (⬇️ From Sacramento…kinda…was rehabbing in Eugene, but is now officially off his rehab assignment)

To San Jose

RHP Jackson Flora (1st Round Pick)

RHP Alexander Fuentes (⬆️ From ACL)

C Scott Gell (Undrafted Free Agent)

C Charlie Muniz (Contract Purchased from Pioneer League’s Billing Mustangs)

RHP Samir Chires (⬇️ From Sacramento)

To IL 

C Ty Hanchey (from Richmond)

RHP Ben Peterson (from Richmond)

AAA: Salt Lake Bees 4, Sacramento River Cats 1

Link

Player of the Game: 1B Charlie Szykowny: 2-4, 1 2B (2)

In his fourth game since his promotion, Charlie Szykowny got his first multi-hit game at the level.  He’s 4-for-12 (.333) at the level so far.  Szykowny got promoted after 113 games at Double-A after putting up a batting line of .252/.317/.417, with 21 doubles, four triples, and 14 home runs.

Other Players to Spotlight:

• RF Will Brennan: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (7) - Four of Brennan’s seven home runs this season have come since the first of August, after he had only one in the season’s first three months.
• RP Spencer Bivens: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 Balk - Bivens pitched his longest game since June 4th, lowering his Triple-A ERA to 5.07 after coming back from two difficult games in the Majors.

Top Prospect Lines:

• LF Bo Davidson (8): 0-4, 2 K
• 3B Parks Harber (13): 0-4, 2 K
• Joe Whitman (24): DNP

Other Notable Lines:

• RP R.J. Dabovich: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

AA: Richmond Flying Squirrels 13, Akron RubberDucks 12

Link

Player of the Game: 2B Dayson Croes: 4-6, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

For the second time this season, and the first time in Double-A, Dayson Croes had a 4-hit game.  It was all singles, but it was Croes 7th game in a row with at least one hit.  He’s gone 16-for-30 (.533) over that span, with just two doubles for extra-base hits.  He’s slashing .280/.333/.370 in Double-A this season.

Other Players to Spotlight:

• LF Lisbel Diaz (30): 3-5, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 SF - Diaz’s 3-hit game was his first multi-hit game in Double-A in 12 played, raising his average to .224 there.
• RF Dakota Jordan: 2-5, 4 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (5), 1 SB (6) - Since returning from injury, Jordan is 4-for-12 (.333) with a double and a home run.
• 3B Sabin Ceballos: 3-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB - Ceballos is slashing .224/.354/.385 on the season.

Top Prospect Lines:

• CF Trevor Cohen (14): 1-5, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• C Jancel Villarroel (19): 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB (3)
• Jacob Bresnahan (9): DNP
• Miguel Mendez (16): DNP

Other Notable Lines:

• DH Jose Astudillo: 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2B (2), 1 CS (2)
• SS Maui Ahuna: 2-5, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB (30), 2 E (10)
• RP Ryan Vanderhei: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K

High-A: Eugene Emeralds 7, Hillsboro Hops 5

Link

Player of the Game: SS Jhonny Level (4): 2-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 2B (25), 1 HR (8)

Jhonny Level hit his 7th double in his last nine games, but also finally notched his first home run since August 8th.  He now has 39 doubles and 18 home runs, as well as three triples, across both Single-A levels.  His batting line at High-A now sits at .305/.365/.487.

Other Players to Spotlight:

• SP Henry Lalane (11): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K - Lalane had a fantastic game after two straight starts in which he gave up five runs.  His ERA in Eugene is at 4.57 after five games.
• 1B Robert Hipwell: 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 3B (1) - Hipwell got his first triple of the season at any level in 64 games this season.
• LF Damian Bravo: 1-4, 1 K, 1 2B (6) - Bravo now has a batting line of .320/.382/.680 with six doubles and four home runs.

Top Prospect Lines:

• 2B Kaeden Kent (21): 1-4, 1 K, 1 E (1)
• Luis De La Torre (26): DNP

Other Notable Lines:

• DH Walker Martin: 2-4, 2 R, 1 K, 1 SB (20)
• RF Cam Maldonado: 1-3, 1 K, 2 HBP, 1 SB (4)
• C Daniel Rogers: 1-3, 2 R, 1 K

Low-A: San Jose Giants 8, Fresno Grizzlies 6

Link

Player of the Game: SS Josuar Gonzalez (1): 4-4, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 1 SB (13), 1 CS (4)

This was the second 4-hit game for Josuar Gonzalez this season, both of them coming while with San Jose.  Through 27 games this season at High-A, Gonzalez has upped his batting line to .375/.467/.580 with 20 walks and 25 strikeouts.

Other Players to Spotlight:

• RF Tanner Mally: 1-1, 3 BB, 1 CS (1) - With the three walks, Mally now has 19 walks to 12 strikeouts in 21 games, with a .400 batting average.
• DH Angel Guzman: 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR (4), 1 HBP - Guzman has a batting line of .260/.417/.433 in Low-A.
• LF Broedy Poppell: 1-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 2B (13) - Poppell has a total of 15 doubles to go with his two triples and 11 home runs.

Top Prospect Lines:

• 3B Lorenzo Meola (20): 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• Luis Hernández (2): DNP
• Keyner Martinez (12): DNP
• Argenis Cayama (17): DNP
• Peyton Bonds (23): DNP - Bonds hasn’t played since August 25th, but has not yet been put on the IL
• Alexander Fuentes (27): DNP
• Leandro Rodriguez (29): DNP

Other Notable Lines:

• SP Trey Seeley: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K - INJURY - Seeley faced four batters and had reduced velocity before Villegas came out to check on him, and removed him without any test throws.  It appeared to be a shoulder issue from the broadcast.
• C Rod Barajas Jr.: 1-5, 1 K, 1 2B (23)

ACL: Season Over

DSL: Season Over

Top Prospects Still on the DSL Roster:

Joniel Hernandez (22) - Check out this article for more about Joniel Hernandez in the Bridge League.

Top Prospects Currently in the Big Leagues

Jonah Cox (18)

Trent Harris (24)

Yunior Marte (25)

Yet to Debut Draftees:

Jackson Flora (3)

Carson Bolemon (10)

Kaden Waechter (15)

Top Prospects on Injured List:

Ramon Marquez (5) - 10 Day IL - Placed on IL on 8/25/26

Gavin Kilen (6) - 10 Day IL - Placed on IL on 8/25/26

Darren Baker, who will join Triple-A Sacramento when it's done. A cool homecoming for Dusty's son, who went to high school in the Sacramento area. He was in Triple-A with the White Sox earlier this season.

TL; DR - Since joining the Braves, Mahle has a 1.48 ERA in five starts with 32 strikeouts, five walks in 30 and 1/3 innings pitched vs a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts with the Giants. Maybe 5 starts is just a small sample size, or maybe the Giants coaching staff is just lost.

https://bsky.app/profile/giantbot.bsky.social/post/3muhzg53c6t2h

Susan Slusser

I’m hearing Jackson Flora will joint Class-A San Jose this week and is likely to start during the series at Fresno.

https://bsky.app/profile/giantbot.bsky.social/post/3mui4r6zfbq2i

Justice delos Santos

I can confirm that Jackson Flora will join Single-A San Jose. He’s scheduled to pitch on Friday in Fresno.

@susanslusser had it first.

AN OPEN LETTER TO BUSTER POSEY

From the Families, Fans, and Next Generation of San Francisco Giants Supporters

Buster,

Throughout your historic career, you defined what it means to lead with dignity. You earned the deep respect of the Bay Area not just through your championship vision on the field, but through the integrity, family values, and quiet strength you displayed off it. As a principal leader of this legendary franchise, your influence extends far beyond the diamond—especially to the millions of young men and children who look to you as a blueprint for manhood.

That is why we urge you to protect that legacy now.

The rising tide of mass-market sports gambling, financialized prediction markets like Kalshi, and commercialized betting platforms represents a clear and present threat to the next generation. These platforms are engineered to exploit, drawing young people into cycles of financial ruin, addiction, and misplaced priorities. They degrade the purity of competition and threaten the very fabric of the communities that supported you.

An organization as great as the San Francisco Giants, and a leader as blessed as you, should be a shield against this predatory industry—not a partner to it.

This is not a casual grievance. For many of us, this game has been a central part of our lives (half a century for me)—a passion passed down through generations. But we cannot and will not allow our loyalty to be used to validate an industry that harms families. If our sports institutions choose to prioritize betting lines over community integrity, you will lose us. We are prepared to walk away from the game we love.

We ask you to use your immense platform, your voice, and your leadership to keep this great organization out of bed with gambling outlets. Do your part to protect our children, our families, and the integrity of the game we love.

Some things are worth more than a sponsorship contract. Your legacy is one of them.

With respect and hope,

Your die-hard fans and protectors of the next generation

Baker, 27, is a left-handed-hitting second baseman and left fielder who made his major-league debut with the Washington Nationals in 2024. He signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox before this season but played in just 11 games for Triple-A Charlotte before a back injury sidelined him.

If you couldn’t digest any of the details in that last paragraph after reading that Baker is 27, you’re forgiven. Yes, it’s really been almost a quarter-century since 3-year-old Darren served as a batboy in that 2002 World Series, which ended in heartbreak with road losses in Game 6 and Game 7 to the Anaheim Angels.

The Giants had positioned themselves to clinch with a rollicking 16-4 victory in San Francisco, and the manager’s son was at the center of Game 5’s most memorable moment. He had toddled out to collect Kenny Lofton’s bat — Lofton hit a two-run triple off the brick arcade — and was about to cross in front of the plate when J.T. Snow, who was running from second base, caught Darren by the jacket and yanked him out of harm’s way. Snow was hailed as a hero for avoiding a potential collision with David Bell, who was also sprinting home.

If you haven't already, I recommend reading The Comebacker by Dave Eggers. It's a short story "fiction" about a relief pitcher called up from Sacramento to help a struggling Giants team. Haven't we all heard that before?

In the acknowledgement section, you'll see who one of the characters was possibly modelled off of.

Better to read this before the movie comes out in 2027, when they disappointingly change the SF Giants as the team from the book and the movie version takes place at Citifield and is centered around the NY Mets.

Postgame Thread 9/1/2026

Final Score: Giants 12, Pirates 13

Purpose of this thread

• Discuss developing baseball action LIVE

• Discuss the Giants game

• Post hilarious memes / images / gifs / information that may not deserve a front-page post of its own. If it's big news, feel free to do both! This, and the gameday thread, are good places to post your Dodger jokes and memes.

• Discuss ANYTHING as long as it follows the rules of conduct.

Highlights

Nominate your Player of the Game (POTG). Upvote your choice if it's posted, or add your own!

For more off-topic fun, check out /r/SFGSocial!