What Does the Future Hold for Chris Heston?

The San Francisco Giants opened AT&T Park on Monday after seven straight games on the road to begin the season. The trophies were brought out, the banner was raised, and a horse was ridden by San Francisco’s biggest rockstar, Madison Bumgarner.

But taking the mound for the home opener was not the ace Bumgarner, and instead, rookie sensation Chris Heston was given the ball. Heston became only the second rookie to start the home opener in San Francisco history, after Alan Fowlkes in 1982.

Heston was fantastic in the home opener, setting a career-high by going seven innings, and he gave up just two runs (one earned). He gave up seven hits and two walks, and struck out five, including completely fooling Troy Tulowitzki on a curveball, making him jump backwards on the called strike three.

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Heston was good enough to win his second start of the year. The offense behind him, however, was not. The team loaded the bases in each of the first two innings, but failed to score in either situation. Overall, the Giants stranded 12 runners, and were shut out for the second time in the past four games.

For Heston, it was a good old-fashioned Caining, a start in which he pitches very well, but the offense gives him little to no run support. And that brings us to Heston’s future.

Heston is taking the rotation spot of the man for whom Cainings are named, Matt Cain, who is currently on the disabled list with a strained flexor tendon in his right forearm. With the initial diagnosis, Cain was expected to be out two to three weeks, and it’s been just over a week now.

Cain still has some work to do to make it back, but when he’s ready, what happens to Heston? There’s no denying that Heston has pitched phenomenally so far in his pair of starts, and he’s earned the chance to continue proving that he has what it takes.

In Heston’s two starts, he’s gone 13 innings, and allowed just one earned run, good for a 0.69 ERA. He has allowed three unearned runs, as well. He’s allowed only 12 hits and four walks, for a 1.230 WHIP. He’s struck out 10 batters.

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But sometimes, sports are unfair. Heston has pitched well enough to stay so far, but Cain is the veteran with the guaranteed contract. He’s proven his worth year-after-year, and even though he’s struggled over the past two years, the team still wants him back in the rotation. His career 3.39 ERA is also a good indicator that a rotation spot is his.

Could Heston fit in somewhere else? Bumgarner isn’t going anywhere. His rotation spot is set, and no one will take that from him.

Jake Peavy has made just one start so far this year, and gave up a grand slam in four innings. He got off to a good start, but eventually his ineffective wildness caught up to him. He was scratched from his first start due to a back injury, so maybe it was rust that needs to be worked out.

Peavy’s 2014 performance with San Francisco was very good, as he went 6-4 with a 2.17 ERA in 12 starts after a big trade. That, plus his $9 million salary in 2015 make his rotation spot tough to take away.

Tim Hudson had a very good first start of the year. Even though he allowed 10 baserunners in 6.1 innings, he shut out the San Diego Padres. Hudson has said this will be his last season, and he will make $12 million this year. His money, as well as the “retirement tour”, will basically keep him in his rotation spot as long as possible.

The final rotation spot belong to Tim Lincecum, who before the season, may have been the most likely candidate to lose his spot. His struggles over the last three seasons have been well-documented, but during the offseason, he reunited with his father and former pitching coach, Chris, in hopes of rebuilding himself as a pitcher.

His attempt at a renaissance got off to a sterling start with a great outing against the Padres, going seven shutout innings, allowing just seven baserunners. Lincecum will have an extended chance to prove himself a legitimate starter once again, which means that Heston may not have the same liberty.

It seems right now that the most likely option for Heston is that he becomes part of the taxi squad, bouncing back and forth between Triple-A Sacramento and San Francisco as the team needs him.

After Cain returns, Heston is likely destined for Triple-A yet again. But at least when he comes back the next time, we all know what he’s capable of.