Breaking News: The San Francisco Giants have formally signed Washington Nationals first baseman to a five-year, $176.7 million contract, per MLB insider knowledge.

SF Giants add Hayden Birdsong, option young pitcher after brief stint with the club

The SF Giants recalled Mason Black on Tuesday. However, the young pitcher was optioned back to Triple-A on Wednesday to make room for Hayden Birdsong. Birdsong was activated for his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

SF Giants add Hayden Birdsong, option young pitcher after brief stint with the club

Black could be asked to make a spot start or two while the Giants’ small city of injured hurlers traverse the road to recovery. He entered Spring Training this year as the No. 9 prospect in the Giants’ system and threw 60.2 innings of 3.86 ERA ball after a midseason promotion to Sacramento last year.

Plenty of observers, including me, felt that although he probably was not ready for the big leagues quite yet. At least, he had the stuff to potentially contribute some meaningful innings. He did not show very well in the Cactus League but still made his way to the majors shortly after Opening Day.

He was ineffective in his four appearances in the orange and, erm, black, allowing 14 earned runs in 14.1 innings of work. After his demotion, that ineffectiveness reached even more drastic heights. In a small sample of 14.1 innings, the same amount he threw with San Francisco, he limped to an 11.93 ERA and eye-popping 2.72 WHIP with Sacramento.

In fairness, the Giants were asking Black to scrap his four-seam fastball in favor of a sinker in his return to Sacramento. Those types of changes tend to come with growing pains.

After their second straight bullpen game against the Cubs on Tuesday, the Giants are not feeling too picky about what warm body they have standing on the mound. Black is almost definitely a better pitcher than he’s shown in a limited sample so far this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s a long-term answer for the club – nor does management realistically expect him to be.

The Giants secured a 5-1 win over the Cubs on Tuesday night. Perhaps, they may have planned to go with Black at some point, but the bullpen game as working. He will return to Triple-A to anchor a Sacramento team that has been surprisingly good in 2024.