SF Giants to keep superficial lefty pitching prospect on the roster for the rest of the year

The San Francisco Giants have brought up Carson Whisenhunt, and the young left-handed pitching prospect has already made two starts for the team. There’s a strong possibility he’ll stay on the roster for the rest of the season.

Why the SF Giants should keep lefty pitching prospect on the roster for the rest of the year

 

 

This move isn’t primarily about performance, though Carson Whisenhunt did secure his first MLB win on Sunday by limiting a strong Mets lineup to one earned run over 5.1 innings in a 12–4 Giants victory.

It’s also not solely about filling a need, even though the Giants’ rotation could use reinforcements. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have stabilized the front end, but the back end lacks depth. Justin Verlander fits into that more uncertain group, and the team is also hoping Landen Roupp returns soon, as he’s had a solid first full season with the club.

Rather, this decision is rooted in roster management. Whisenhunt was going to be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, and the Giants intended to protect him by placing him on the 40-man roster anyway. By calling him up in July, they simply accelerated that process.

Now, the Giants must tread carefully. They want to avoid sending Whisenhunt back down and using up a minor league option this late in the season, which would be wasteful—something they’ve already done recently with Wade Meckler.

It’s important to note that an option year is only used if a player spends 20 or more days in the minors under an optional assignment (not counting rehab assignments). Simply optioning a player doesn’t immediately burn a year, which is a common point of confusion.

With less than two months left in both the MLB and Triple-A seasons, the Giants are trying to maintain Whisenhunt’s long-term roster flexibility. If he remains in the majors through mid-September, they’ll avoid using an option year.

After his strong outing Sunday, he likely earned at least another start or two—and considering the current rotation, he may stay up the rest of the season. This stretch could also serve as a key audition for Whisenhunt, with multiple starting spots potentially open for 2026.