The third round of camp cuts commences.
The San Francisco Giants opened Spring Training with three Carsons in camp. They now have none. On Sunday, ahead of their split-squad games (one of which is available on KNBR, the other on MLB TV), the team announced that right-handed pitchers Carson Seymour and Carson Ragsdale had both been optioned.
It’s a very unsurprising move, as optioning the righty Carsons was always a matter of “when” not “if.” The two starting pitchers were the Giants lone Rule 5 protections this offseason, which means the Giants certainly value them … but it also means that they have no MLB experience. And the performance of each in AAA last year (4.82 ERA, 5.32 FIP, 8.8 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9 for Seymour; 5.03 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 9.6 K/9, and 4.4 BB/9 for Ragsdale) suggested that a little more development time was necessary before they join an MLB roster that is very deep with pitching options. Neither was viewed as a real candidate to make the Opening Day roster though, as Landen Roupp proved last year, the door will always open for those willing to kick it down (I recommend trying the doorknob first, though).
Seymour, a 2021 sixth-round pick by the Mets who came to the Giants in the J.D. Davis trade, appeared in two Cactus League games and pitched four innings, giving up four hits, no walks, and two runs, while striking out two. Ragsdale, a 2020 fourth-round pick by the Phillies who was poached in exchange for Sam Coonrod, also appeared in two games, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing two hits, five walks, and no runs, with seven strikeouts. They both should start the season in the AAA Sacramento rotation, and it seems likely that each will make their Major League debut this year, though that may have to happen in relief roles.
It’s the third round of camp cuts for the Giants who, by my math, have 35 rostered players and 14 non-roster invitees currently in Major League camp. On Wednesday they optioned outfielder Marco Luciano and pitcher Mason Black, while reassigning first baseman Bryce Eldridge and pitchers Raymond Burgos, Miguel Del Pozo, Ethan Small, Kai-Wei Teng, and Cole Waites. And on Thursday, they optioned right-hander Trevor McDonald while reassigning the third Carson of the bunch, lefty Carson Whisenhunt.
Since teams pull players from Minor League camp into games all the time, don’t be surprised if you see Seymour or Ragsdale in another game or two this spring.