Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Lost in the shuffle of a busy Wednesday that did not include a game was the departure of a Giants pitcher who so good so recently.
The Giants designated Dereck Rodriguez for assignment before postponing their game Wednesday, which likely will end D-Rod’s tenure with the Giants just a couple years after he was a Rookie of the Year candidate.
The 28-year-old son of Ivan Rodriguez was excellent upon being called up in 2018, when he posted a 2.81 ERA in 118 1/3 innings, but he hasn’t approached that level of success since.
Rodriguez was shuttled up and down between Sacramento and San Francisco last year, the daily moves of Farhan Zaidi weighing on Rodriguez, who admitted his frustration about not finding a rhythm. He struggled all year, finishing with a 5.64 ERA, and returned this season to a club that has a growing value on pure stuff it can harness, which is not Rodriguez’s strength.
“He has struggled to find a consistency over the last couple years. That doesn’t mean it’s not in there,” Gabe Kapler said. “But his consistent stuff and strike-throwing ability, it just hasn’t been there consistently enough.”
While his fastball ticked up this season, he does not have the heat or the movement the Giants look for, Rodriguez more gritting his way through lineups. He threw four innings this year and allowed six runs, leading to the cutting of ties.
The Giants called up Joey Rickard, the second-year Giant going 0-for-2 against Clayton Kershaw on Thursday. He effectively replaces Hunter Pence as a righty-hitting corner outfielder who they hope can do damage against lefties. He will see time while Austin Slater is sidelined.
“In Sacramento, he’s been arguably the best player down there,” Kapler said of Rickard.
The Giants also optioned Shaun Anderson, who has struggled with command all season, walking 11 in 10 1/3 innings.