SF Giants have another young starting pitcher sidelined with injury

The SF Giants starting pitching depth may about to be tested even further as Tristan Beck seeks a consultation with "discomfort in his right hand."

The SF Giants entered spring training projecting to have one of the youngest and least experienced Opening Day rotations in team history. Some early spring training injuries, though, have raised even more questions surrounding the group. Keaton Winn, the early favorite to be the Giants number four starter remains out with elbow soreness. Now, the next man up in the rotation depth chart, Tristan Beck, may be dealing with an injury himself.

SF Giants SP Tristan Beck pitches against the Dodgers at Oracle Park. (2023) / Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

"Tristan Beck was sent to San Francisco to be evaluated by team doctors as he's been dealing with some discomfort in his right hand," according to a team press release on Tuesday. "Another update will be provided in the next couple of days."

Beck is coming off a promising rookie season with the Giants. While former manager Gabe Kapler seemed hesitant to give Beck a chance as a traditional starter, Beck was incredibly effective as a swingman out of the bullpen, working in long relief or in a bulk role during bullpen games. Beck finished the season with a 3.92 ERA (3.99 FIP) with 65 strikeouts and 21 walks in 85 MLB innings pitched. 

To many, Beck proved enough to receive an opportunity to start at the MLB level last season. After Kapler was replaced by Bob Melvin, and the Giants chose (at least thus far) to trade away more veteran starting pitching than they acquired this offseason, the stage was finally set for Beck to receive that opportunity.

It's still early in camp, and the Giants are obviously going to be exceedingly cautious with their young pitchers. A minor injury should leave Beck plenty of time to return to the field, rekindle his form, and work his way back into the rotation. However, things could get more difficult if he is forced to miss more than a couple of weeks.

With Winn, Beck, and other young pitchers sidelined, it's worth wondering if the SF Giants would return to the free agent market for a more proven option. While the team seems high on minor-league free agent signing Daulton Jefferies, he remains quite unproven. Meanwhile, reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell (#6-ranked free agent), Jordan Montgomery (#5-ranked free agent), and Michael Lorenzen (#36-ranked free agent) are all unsigned and coming off productive big-league seasons.