Beede, Fernandez look to reverse their runs of poor luck
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. >> If there’s one trait baseball teams need more than talent, it’s luck.
On Monday, the Giants tested theirs, premiering a pair of pitchers who haven’t been blessed with good fortune of late.
The franchise’s top pitching prospect, Tyler Beede, took the mound for his spring debut in a 10-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Beede was in line for a callup last summer but suffered a freak injury while warming up for a mid-morning contest on July 24 that sidelined him for the rest of the year.
The groin strain that robbed Beede of an opportunity to advance past Triple-A initially crushed his spirits, but this spring it inspired him to overhaul a warmup routine that now emphasizes lower body movements.
“I kind of allowed myself 24-to-48 hours to be frustrated about that, but after that it was get back here to Arizona and start working and preparing for the next opportunity, whenever it will come,” Beede said.
Beede surrendered four hits and three runs in two innings against Kansas City and both the starter and his manager thought he struggled with command too often in two-strike situations.
“A lot of strikes, a lot of first-pitch strikes,” Bruce Bochy said. “If anything, probably a little wild in the strike zone. He didn’t execute some pitches when he was ahead in the count.”
Though Beede has an uphill climb if he wants to beat out Chris Stratton or Ty Blach for a spot in the Giants’ rotation, his path to a major league job might be easier to ascend than the one reliever Julian Fernandez is facing.
Fernandez pitched the eighth inning Monday and immediately showcased the misfortune that’s plaguing him this spring. In the first week of camp, the 22-yearold right-hander cut the index finger on his pitching hand. His first pitch in a Giants’ uniform Monday was hooked about a yard inside the first base line for a triple, and the next batter reached on a 3-2 offering that slipped out of Fernandez’s hand.
When a groundball barely snuck past the glove of third baseman Jonah Arenado for a single, Fernandez’s second walk in four batters ended a disastrous outing, but after the game Bochy said he expects the Rule-5 draft pick to improve with experience.
“Probably the worst thing that could have happened, happened,” Bochy said. “A broken bat triple. I’m sure the nerves were going pretty good, but he’ll get better each time out I think.”
Bullpen candidates Derek Law and Josh Osich also made their first appearances Monday, as each completed a perfect inning.
Because several relievers, including Law and Osich, still have minor league options, the Giants have the luxury of stashing major league-caliber pitchers in Triple-A. In the case of Fernandez, who has never pitched above Single-A, it’s the 25-man roster or bust.
“Of course there is a big difference between A-class and facing Major League hitters, but I’m not afraid,” Fernandez said. “I’m not afraid of throwing my pitch, I’m aware also that the guys up here have more experience, but I’m ready and I’m confident that I can do the job.”
• Kelby Tomlinson and Pablo Sandoval are the front-runners to win backup infielder jobs, but second baseman Miguel Gomez is making noise with his bat. The switch-hitter went 1-for-2 on Monday, and is 4-for-7 this spring.
“The bat plays, doesn’t it?” Bochy said. “You have to love the way (Gomez) finds a way to get the barrel of the bat on the ball consistently. He really does a good job of adjusting and he’s one of those guys that can adjust on the fly too. He can get off balance and still find a way to make good hard contact. He’s a hitter.”