The San Francisco Giants announced three roster moves ahead of today’s doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Matt Wilkinson will start Game 1 after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento and will serve as the official 27th man for the twin bill.
The Giants also optioned right-hander Spencer Bivens to Sacramento and selected the contract of left-hander Seth Lonsway. No additional move was needed to add Lonsway because San Francisco had an open spot on its 40-man roster.
Seth Lonsway set for MLB debut
Lonsway will make his Major League debut the first time he enters a game. That could happen today, as the Giants are likely to need several pitchers to complete both games of the doubleheader.
The 27-year-old Lonsway was selected by San Francisco in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Ohio State.
Known primarily as a ground-ball specialist, Lonsway has produced a 57.7% groundball rate across 75 2/3 combined innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season. He does not generate many strikeouts and does not rely on high velocity, rarely throwing a traditional four-seam fastball.
Lonsway’s primary pitch is a 90.4-mph sinker. He also uses a cutter, changeup and slider to keep hitters off balance.
Giants prospect could provide long relief
Across 114 career innings at Triple-A, Lonsway has recorded a 5.37 ERA while making 25 starts in 29 appearances. The hitter-friendly conditions of the Pacific Coast League are an important factor when evaluating Giants prospects, and Lonsway’s ground-ball-heavy approach has also been affected by some unfavorable batted-ball results in Sacramento.
At Double-A, Lonsway has posted a 3.02 ERA with stronger control numbers over 128 1/3 innings. He started 24 of his 26 games for San Francisco’s Richmond affiliate.
The Giants could use Lonsway as a starting pitcher in the majors, but a long-relief role may offer him the best chance to remain on a big league roster. It is unclear whether his first stint in the majors will extend beyond this weekend, though a strong performance could put him in consideration for a spot in next year’s bullpen.
Source: www.mlbtraderumors.com