Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
If Triple-A Sacramento needed any help selling tickets, there are plenty of family and friends of players who should be showing up soon.
The Giants held on to a couple of local guys, with outfielder Braden Bishop and righty Trevor Hildenberger clearing waivers Wednesday and being outrighted to Sacramento. Bishop, who went to St. Francis in Mountain View, and Hildenberger, a Mountain View native who went to Cal, are no longer on 40-man rosters but are back nearby their homes.
Bishop is the brother of the Giants’ 2019 first-round pick, Hunter Bishop, who is playing at High-A Eugene. Hunter lobbied the club on Twitter to claim his brother, who had been DFA’d by the Mariners, and it worked — but the Giants had plans to sneak him through waivers, which they did successfully.
Braden is regarded as an excellent defensive outfielder who has yet to hit in the majors, batting .133 in 99 plate appearances over the past three seasons with Seattle. He was a third-round pick in 2015 with a solid minor league pedigree. He’s good to have in the system, especially with Steven Duggar looking like he belongs in the majors and Jaylin Davis out with injury. If Braden performs and Hunter continues to progress, that Oracle Park outfield would be a fan favorite.
Bishop’s 40-man spot was cleared to wedge Scott Kazmir onto the roster, while Hildenberger’s DFA made room for Nick Tropeano.
Hildenberger, who’s from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, was claimed from the Mets. He is a near side-armer who had an outstanding rookie season in 2017, with a 3.21 ERA, but has struggled since. He had pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs with the Mets this season before being waived.
The Giants have a clear need for righty relievers, and he now becomes an option. No player wants to be outrighted to the minors, but it sure must help when it means you’re near home.