In first outing of spring, Gausman is impressive
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Something more akin to a normal spring training is starting to take shape at Scottsdale Stadium, where preparations were ramping up for limited fan access — and where potential Opening Night starter Kevin Gausman was absolutely dealing.
Without using his splitfinger fastball Tuesday, Gausman impressed some of the Giants’ most experienced hitters, throwing high heat and some nasty sliders.
“I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t have to face someone throwing 97 mph again until the end of the spring,” third baseman Evan Longoria said on a video call with reporters.
“He looked unbelievable,” outfielder Alex Dickerson said. “If he has any more in the tank than that, that’s crazy. He was locating, throwing hard.”
Manager Gabe Kapler marveled at the fact Gausman looked dominant even without his devastating split, and raved about the high heat, saying, “Certainly, people are talking about Gausman’s outing, and with good reason. It’s not often you see a guy executing his pitches on Day 1 like Kevin did, and he was able to do that without his best weapon. The execution at the top rail with his fastball was especially impressive.”
The Giants’ top choices to start at Seattle on April 1 are Gausman, who signed an $18.9 million qualifying offer this winter, and Johnny Cueto, with Gausman’s superior 2020 probably giving him the edge.
As Gausman and fellow starters Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani were throwing live batting practice, stadium workers were maneuvering metal detectors into place for Sunday’s Cactus League opener against the Angels. Event staff spent much of the day taping off sections and ziptying seats to ensure that the 7501,000 fans who be allowed in stay in their designated “pods.”
Scottsdale Stadium seasonticket holders have first dibs, and they’ll account for about 500 tickets for each of the team’s 14 home games. The remainder went on sale Tuesday morning and sold out within an hour.
⏩ Tyler Beede was back on the mound as he returns from Tommy John surgery, throwing Tuesday to catcher Curt Casali, who is himself on the mend for surgery to remove a broken hamate bone. Kapler said that Beede reported his bullpen session — all fastballs — went well “and he’s locked in.”
⏩ Japanese righthander Shun Yamaguchi, signed Saturday, threw his first bullpen session, 50 pitches, mostly fastballs right around the zone. According to Kapler, Yamaguchi was up to 90 mph, which is fine for this point of the spring.
⏩ Mauricio Dubón worked with the infielders rather than the outfielders during much of the morning workout, and he looks as fluid as ever at shortstop even though he’s now the team’s starting center fielder. Top prospect Marco Luciano, 19, also was in that group of infielders, and he appears as good as advertised: silky smooth at shortstop, with tons of range, including going back on flyballs. ⏩ Fun sight of the day: 6foot11 pitcher Sean Hjelle dropping down nice bunt after nice bunt. Hjelle somehow invariably seemed to be standing right next to James Sherfy, who is listed at 6foot but appears several inches shorter — maybe because he was dwarfed by Hjelle.
⏩ Rule5 draftee Dedniel Núñez threw batting practice on the backfield. “Excellent, excellent outing,” said Kapler, who said Núñez has confidence that reminds him of Gausman’s. “He knows how good he is,” Kapler said.
⏩ With limited fans returning, Dickerson was asked about launching throws at cardboard cutouts last year. “Hopefully, I don’t instinctually throw it when people are out there,” he said.