The Giants Turn Their Lonely Eyes to Hayden Birdsong (woo woo oo)
SF Giants Minor Lines, June 25, 2024
Photo Credit: K.A. Fulmore | Richmond Flying Squirrels
For the past four summers, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time watching baseball for a living — thanks to the generosity of my supporters. But one thing I probably don’t talk about as often as I should, is that I’ve also been able to make connections with a lot of truly genuine people, and that’s been an enriching and meaningful part of my life the last few years that I didn’t really expect. This was brought home to me yesterday when, under a scorching hot Richmond sun, I stepped onto the field at The Diamond and quickly came upon Ismael Munguia. Seeing me again on the beat, he lit up in a smile and he came over and gave me a handshake and a hug. Just a few feet later, I got a big welcome from Manager Dennis Pelfrey, whom I hadn’t seen for nearly two months thanks to a second hip replacement procedure. A little while later, I had a conversation with a different player (which you’ll likely be hearing sometime in the future) that very nearly brought me to tears.
And, of course, by evening, we’d read happy pieces of news about two players whom I have greatly enjoyed getting to know and speak with: Mason Black (returned to the majors) and Hayden Birdsong (coming soon), both of whom are as genuine, as gracious, as open and friendly as anybody you could hope to meet (along with many other players in the Giants’ organization). The last time I saw Birdsong pitch, I caught up with him after the game to let him know that I didn’t think I’d be seeing him at this level again, and to wish him good luck at the next stop. He was taking a photo on the field with his parents, who had come to watch him pitch, and I was able to chat with them for a brief time as well. I was right that I wouldn’t see him pitch here in Richmond again (though he did make additional starts here), but I couldn’t imagine that by the time another home stand rolled around, he’d be making his major league debut. I could only imagine how thrilled he must have been to make that phone call home to the father who coached him and mother who supported him — or what their emotions must have been to receive it.
It’s always good to remember that, while this game is a big, harsh business featuring athletes of the highest caliber, it’s also a world full of very real people (in front of, and behind the scenes), working diligently, under extremely difficult and trying circumstances, at becoming the very best version of themselves.
It was a good day at the yard! And once again, I want to express my gratitude to all of you who make these kinds of days possible.
Now, to business! As I suggested in yesterday’s Stats Review, there were a lot of bodies on the move before the start of the new series — mostly pitchers. So let’s catch up on the many, many transactions that passed the wire before play started. Let’s work downwards from the top:
RHP Carson Ragsdale moved from Richmond up to Sacramento (Sacramento now has 25 active players, three below their roster maximum, plus four players on MLB rehab assignment)
RHP Will Bednar, LHP Seth Lonsway, and OF Turner Hill moved from Eugene up to Richmond (along with Dilan Rosario going onto the IL and Alerick Soularie coming off of the IL, put Richmond’s roster at 28, giving the Squirrels a full roster for the first time in a while)
OF Jonah Cox and LHP Cesar Perdomo moved up from San Jose to Eugene (Eugene’s roster now has just 24 active players, six below the A-ball roster maximum)
OF Lisbel Diaz and RHP Ryan Vanderhei moved up from ACL Giants to San Jose (San Jose has 27 active players, three below their maximum)
Hey, you never know. Ragsdale could be starting in Oracle before this homestand is over!
HITTER of the NIGHT: Cole Foster (SJ) 3 for 5, 2 2b (15), 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 K
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Brayan Palencia (SJ), 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
As long as I’m being all person-centric this morning, let’s lead into the Lines with a very happy birthday wish to Hunter Bishop and Tyler Myrick, who were born on the very same day on opposite sides of the country, 26 years ago (yesterday). May they all be good ones!
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to There R Giants to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.