Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants made a few little moves and a Littell move before Friday’s game.
Zack Littell, who impressed throughout spring training, was the first righty non-roster invite to be added to the 40- and 26-man rosters, called up as the Giants began a series in San Diego.
The Giants lacked a trusted righty in their bullpen all last season and have tried to uncover another in the first month of this year, with Matt Wisler struggling and Gregory Santos getting touched up in a pair of appearances before he was demoted. While Camilo Doval has continued to impress, there is a need for a middle-inning reliever, and up comes Littell.
Gabe Kapler called him a potential bridge to Doval and Caleb Baragar in the sixth and seventh innings ahead of Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee in the late innings.
“His split is a developing pitch, it’s getting better,” Kapler said of the 25-year-old, who pitched for parts of three seasons in Minnesota. “He continues to throw strikes with his slider and his fastball. His fastball’s been up to 97.”
If he appears in the opener at Petco Park, Steven Duggar likely would be his center fielder. The lefty-hitting outfielder also was called up and inserted directly into the lineup, batting eighth against righty Yu Darvish. Jason Vosler was optioned to clear space for Duggar, while outfielder Skye Bolt was optioned Thursday and designated for assignment Friday to clear space for Littell.
Kapler said he hopes the club can retain Bolt, a switch-hitter and good defender who had been used as a late-game fill-in Tuesday and Wednesday. Their trade for Mike Tauchman filled a lefty-hitting outfielder spot on the 40-man roster.
The Giants’ lefty-filled lineup:
1. Tommy La Stella, 2B
2. Mike Tauchman, RF
3. Buster Posey, C
4. Brandon Belt, 1B
5. Alex Dickerson, LF
6. Evan Longoria, 3B
7. Brandon Crawford, SS
8. Steven Duggar, CF
9. Logan Webb, RHP
The taxi squad in San Diego: catcher Joey Bart, infielders Vosler and Thairo Estrada, lefty Conner Menez and righty Kervin Castro.
Castro, a 22-year-old, is in his first taxi squad. Kapler likes how fast he works.
“I’m glad to have him with us on the taxi squad and kind of introduce him to to Major League Baseball this way,” Kapler said. “Not sure if we’re going to have an opportunity to activate him anytime soon, but it’s good for him to get his feet wet.”