SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants saw enough out of Kai-Wei Teng last Friday to give him another shot, and because the San Diego Padres are so balanced at the top of their lineup, they’ll let the right-hander start on Wednesday instead of following a left-handed opener. Two days later, Landen Roupp will return from an elbow scare.
The rotation, at least for now, is full again, and on Tuesday that led to the Giants optioning top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt when they needed a roster spot for Tyler Fitzgerald. Whisenhunt had an up-and-down first stint in the big leagues, allowing eight runs in 14 1/3 innings, but also mixing in a strong start in New York against the Mets.
Manager Bob Melvin said the three starts were a learning experience for the 24-year-old.
“The first time at the big league level, you learn some things pretty quickly about yourself. It happens a little bit quicker here,” Melvin said. “He had a tough first inning and recovered in his first outing. Pitched pretty well after that and had a good start in New York and then had an on-and-off one (over the weekend). You realize kind of what plays here and whatnot. He’s going to be better for it when he goes down.
“I think you trust your instincts a little bit more when you feel what happens here at the big league level. He’s going to be better for it. We’ll see him again at some point.”
The main lesson for the lefty involved the two pitches he used most often. Whisenhunt has an elite changeup, but it was inconsistent in the big leagues, and hitters were ready for it. There’s so much data and video now that prospects aren’t able to sneak up on anyone, and Whisenhunt allowed a .273 average on his changeup.
He responded by leaning heavily on his sinker, which he commanded well in New York. When he left a few over the plate on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, he allowed three homers.
Whisenhunt struck out 12 in his three starts but also walked seven. He allowed five homers, three on his sinker and two on his changeup.
“I think he found out pretty quickly that he needs to be able to locate his fastball,” Melvin said. “And when he does, it makes his off-speed stuff — especially his changeup — that much better.”
The run in the big leagues was perhaps shorter than Whisenhunt hoped, but the Giants view him as a big part of their plans going forward. Melvin said they saw enough to be confident the lefty “can perform here.”