SF Giants designate left-handed pitcher Sam Long for assignment
The SF Giants designated left-handed pitcher Sam Long for assignment earlier this week, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Cal Stevenson. The Giants acquired Stevenson in a minor trade with the Oakland Athletics. Long, a Sacramento State product, is now available on waivers to every other MLB team.
SF Giants reliever Sam Long returns to the dugout after facing the Dodgers. (2022)
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Long was a revelation during spring training in 2021 after inking a minor-league deal with the Giants. Long had been released by the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and briefly pursued EMS certification before deciding to give pro baseball another shot. Long already had an impressive curveball, but discovered newfound velocity in his return to baseball.
Long dominated the upper minors in 2021, recording a 2.34 ERA in 40.2 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts and 13 walks between Double-A and Triple-A, earning a big-league promotion. Long showed some flashes, but his fastball struggled to maintain mid-90s velocity as the season wore on. He posted a 5.53 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 15 walks in 40.2 innings of work (12 appearances).
Long's velocity regressed to the low-90s in 2022, leading the Giants to move him to the bullpen. He appeared in 28 games with the Giants last season and while he finished the year with a solid 3.61 ERA, there were several warning signs that his performance was unsustainable. Long only racked up 33 strikeouts in 42.1 innings and ERA estimators like FIP (5.07), xERA (4.28), and xFIP (4.68) were all noticeably higher than his final numbers.
With prospects like Tristan Beck (Giants #19 prospect) usurping Long on the organization's depth chart heading into the season, it seemed like the southpaw needed to excel if he wanted to remain on the 40-man roster. Instead, Long surrendered seven runs on 11 hits and three walks in 5.2 innings pitched this spring and has a 9.90 ERA in four appearances at Triple-A.
The SF Giants will hope that Sam Long goes unclaimed on waivers so they can retain him in the organization. However, given his solid track record of success in the upper minors and the constant need for left-handed pitchers around MLB, it's easy to envision another team claiming him off waivers.
