Roupp makes case for spot in rotation
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Back-to-back rainouts delayed pitching prospect Landen Roupp’s anticipated spring debut. Finally, under a blue sky and broadcast over one of the San Francisco Giants’ few televised spring games, the pitcher coaches and players raved about could show off his stuff.
In one inning of work against an Oakland Athletics split squad, Roupp threw two wideright pitches, calmed his nerves, and settled in with his curveball and sinker. He struck out two and didn’t allow a base runner in the eighth inning. Though it’s a longshot, Roupp, 25, is making his case for a shot at a job in the rotation when camp breaks.
“Those are the kinds of things we’re looking for,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I know it’s just a spring training game, but it can be difficult here, condition-wise. Keeping your composure and pitching when you’re fighting for a spot, we’re looking for that stuff.”
A back injury delayed Roupp’s debut, but he stood out during his bullpen sessions leading up to Saturday’s game. Melvin said Roupp has a noticeable competitive edge and “has a chance to be special” with unique movement on his pitches. He throws a sinker in the low-to-mid 90s mph with a curveball that’s caught the team’s attention.
“In this organization, he’s very highly well thought of,” Melvin said earlier this week.
Another rotation hopeful, Mason Black, showed some moxie and earned a win in the Giants’ 5-1 exhibition victory. He gave up hits to the first three batters he faced and then started to generate some weak contact. With that momentum, Black retired the side in his second inning, finishing with one earned run over two innings.
The rotation competition will only grow fiercer with a few other pitchers set to enter the fold. Earlier, Keaton Winn and KaiWei Teng threw live bullpens on their way back from respective injuries. Both highly regarded pitching prospects are in the mix for rotation jobs and are on track to make their spring debuts in the coming days.
Teng and Winn threw about 25 pitches to Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto and Yoshi Tsutsugo. Carson Whisenhunt, another name in the rotation mix, is scheduled for a live batting practice Thursday and Alex Cobb, on the mend from hip surgery, is scheduled to throw one Monday.
Jordan Hicks, Saturday’s starter, was pitching a perfect game until issuing a walk in his final frame. He struck out six of the 10 batters he faced with his slider looking the best it’s been all spring as he navigates a transformation from reliever to starter. Hicks believes the talent on the pitching staff should overcome any holes in this unsettled rotation.
“We have a really good bullpen,” Hicks said. “So even if the fourth or fifth starter goes only four or five innings and we’re still in the ballgame, I think we still have a really good chance to win the game.”