San Francisco Giants Spring Training Report: Position Battles, Other Notes

Other Standouts and Notes

Mar 3, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher

(55) throws in the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at HoHoKam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The numbers aren’t exactly great for Tim Lincecum, as he’s allowed three runs, including a home run, in three innings, but he has looked fantastic compared to last season. His split-changeup has new life, looking like the pitch during his Cy Young years, and it shows in his strikeout totals. Of the nine outs he’s recorded, seven have come by way of the K. He’s also walked just one batter. The signs are there indicating Lincecum is much more confident, and maybe some of the old TImmy will shine through.

Giants’ top pitching prospect Kyle Crick has appeared in just one game, but he was very impressive in his Spring debut. In 2.2 innings, he allowed just one hit, and struck out one. He did allow two walks, as that continues to be his achilles heel. However, his stuff is good enough to work through the free passes. If he can continue to build on that, don’t be surprised to see his major league debut in 2015.

Two minor league infielders are off to impressive starts in camp, as Mitch Delfino and Christian Arroyo are both opening some eyes early. Delfino, a third baseman and former Cal Bear, is 3-6 with two RBI, and has worked three walks. He’s also shown off his nice glove that made him an organization All-Star last season. Arroyo, the team’s 2013 first-round pick, is 4-5, with an RBI double and three runs scored. He’s a natural hitter, and his crisp swing is paying dividends.

Adalberto Mejia, another highly-regarded pitching prospect, has appeared in two games, and notched three perfect innings, including four strikeouts. The big lefty is making a case to be a late-2015 call-up, but he will have an uphill battle to earn that right, as he will serve a 50-game suspension to start the minor league season. He was caught using a banned diuretic that is known to have lethal side effects. Weight has always been an issue for Mejia, and he needs to find a safer way to control it. If he keeps pitching like he has, he could be alright gaining a couple extra pounds.

One final note, the Giants reassigned three players to minor league camp earlier in the week. Clayton Blackburn, yet another highly-touted pitching prospect, is dealing with a sore shoulder, and Ray Black, a minor league pitcher who owns a fastball that’s touched 102 previously, has a balky quad. Both players will rehab with the minor league camp. Nik Turley was also reassigned, but reasons are not known. He is most likely dealing with a minor injury as well.