SAN DIEGO — Joey Bart’s last day in the Giants’ organization hasn’t arrived yet.
Finalizing their Opening Day roster Thursday morning, the Giants opted to carry three catchers, including the former second overall pick. While the team won’t keep three catchers all season, Bart cannot be sent to the minors without passing through waivers and the move potentially increases the chances he goes unclaimed.
As manager Bob Melvin informed players whether or not they had made the roster, he said the conversation with Bart was one of his most satisfying.
“There was a lot of uncertainty with Joey,” Melvin said. “We talked about it. He’s in a place where he’s either with us or he’s going to get picked up by another big-league team. I think he knew that coming in and he was just going to come in and perform and let the cards fall where they may.”
By using one of the 26 roster spots on Bart, the Giants will open the season with only 12 pitchers, including Blake Snell. The recently signed reigning Cy Young winner has a sim game lined up for Friday in Arizona and isn’t expected to make his club debut until Wednesday at the earliest — the final game of their opening road trip, at Dodger Stadium — but accompanied them for Opening Day in his former home.
With question marks surrounding Snell and Keaton Winn, who is tentatively set to start Monday, the Giants needed length in their bullpen, so Melvin got to have another rewarding discussion with Landen Roupp, a 25-year-old righty who initially wasn’t expected to pitch in a game this spring because of a back injury that cut short his 2023 season.
Roupp appeared in four games, using his sinker-curveball combo to post a 2.25 ERA and strike out 13 in eight innings, pitching well enough to force his way onto the roster despite pitching only 10 games at Double-A and none in Triple-A. The news was so unexpected that it even took a moment for Roupp to process it.
“I told him, yeah, this is the time when we reduce numbers. I think in his head, he thought he was being reduced,” Melvin recalled. “When I told him he wasn’t, it took him a while to figure that out. … We’ll see how the nerves are early on, but he performed well enough to make the team.”
Roupp and 26-year-old lefty Erik Miller, who had been optioned early in camp, won the final two spots in the bullpen.
Nick Ahmed, not Marco Luciano, will be the Giants’ first Opening Day shortstop other than Brandon Crawford since 2011.
Luciano, the Giants’ top position player prospect, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, while Ahmed started alongside third baseman Matt Chapman.
“Luci was playing well there at the end, but we still feel like maybe there’s some development defensively,” Melvin said. “I think his bat is going to play here right now. Just get a little bit more comfortable at the shortstop position. That’s about it at this point.”
When Ahmed signed on midway through camp as a non-roster invitee, he said, “it wasn’t guaranteed right away, but I know the type of player I am and what I’m capable of. So in my mind, it was right away” that he knew the Opening Day job would be his.
When it comes to stepping into the shoes of the franchise’s longtime shortstop, now in St. Louis, Ahmed said, “I’m not worried about that. Crawford’s obviously a great player, here for a long time, but I’m not trying to replace him or be him or anything like that. I’m just trying to come in and help this team.”
Leading the team with four home runs in Cactus League play, fellow top prospect Luis Matos made a strong case to make the team out of camp but, Melvin said, “it’s simply a numbers game for (him) right now.” Austin Slater’s elbow was deemed healthy enough for him to avoid the IL, and Tyler Fitzgerald will also back up all three outfield spots in addition to second and short.
“That was probably the most difficult (conversation),” Melvin said. “He performed really well. When you perform that well there’s an expectation that you make the team.”
To create room on the 40-man roster for Ahmed and Roupp, the Giants placed Ethan Small (oblique) on the 60-day injured list and designated utilityman Cooper Hummel for assignment. Alex Cobb (hip) and Sean Hjelle (elbow) were each placed on the 15-day IL, allowing the team to call up Miller after being optioned earlier in camp.
After receiving a warm farewell during the Bay Bridge exhibitions, Pablo Sandoval was released.
Daulton Jefferies, who had a strong spring returning from his second Tommy John surgery, was reassigned to the minors. But, Melvin said, “I expect him to be part of this thing real soon.”
That could come as soon as Sunday, when the Giants have an open spot to fill in their rotation. It’s possible Matos is added to the roster in even quicker succession. Mike Yastrzemski is expected to go on the paternity list Friday, opening a roster spot and a need in the outfield.
“So,” Melvin said, “the roster could look a little bit different in three or four days in a couple different spots.”
Numbers game
The Giants were not going to issue Madison Bumgarner’s No. 40 again, so Ahmed was forced to pick a new number after wearing No. 40 throughout spring training. He opted for No. 16 for a couple reasons. For one, there weren’t many options left, but it also represented one of his favorite bible verses, John 3:16.
After wearing No. 89 in spring, Roupp was assigned No. 65 for the regular season. Miller will wear No. 68.
San Francisco Giants Opening Day roster
Pitchers (12): RHP Camilo Doval, LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Luke Jackson, LHP Erik Miller, RHP Tyler Rogers, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Landen Roupp, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Ryan Walker, RHP Logan Webb & RHP Keaton Winn
Catchers (3): Patrick Bailey, Joey Bart & Tom Murphy
Infielders (6): Nick Ahmed, Matt Chapman, Thairo Estrada, Tyler Fitzgerald, Wilmer Flores & LaMonte Wade Jr.
Outfielders (5): Michael Conforto, Jung Hoo Lee, Austin Slater, Jorge Soler & Mike Yastrzemski
