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It’s an even year again. It must be time for the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series, having won in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The question is who will step up this year to get them over the hump?
The Giants’ great secret is that they always have a hidden gem of a pitcher ready to step into the breech. This year that pitcher should be Chris Stratton. The Giants have five veteran starters ready to go, with Chris Heston ready to step up if one gets injured. Stratton needs to show the Giants this spring that he should be the next man up when the next pitcher goes down.
Stratton was drafted in the first round in 2012 out of Mississippi State, but he has yet to make a big league appearance. This is his second spring training invite with the Giants. Last year he pitched seven innings over four games and allowed five earned runs, but this year he has gotten off to a better start. Through four games this spring, Stratton has pitched 10 innings, only allowing two earned runs.
There has been talk that Tyler Beede, the 2014 first-round draft pick, would come up if something happened to two of the top six starters. Beede has only pitched in two games this spring and hasn’t impressed, so it doesn’t appear that the Giants’ front office is behind him yet.
Stratton has made 76 minor league starts over three full minor league seasons, including five he made in the short rookie ball season. He has struck out 370 batters in 418 innings. These aren’t elite strikeout rates, but that explains why Stratton is only averaging a touch above five innings per start in the minors.
Stratton needs to continue to show the Giants’ front office that he can get outs in an efficient manner. This is his shot to show them that he is ready to step up to major league competition. If he doesn’t prove himself to the Giants this spring, Beede may overtake him by this time next year.
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