SAN FRANCISCO — Following up on being recognized as the PCL’s pitcher of the month for May, Carson Whisenhunt struck out a season-high 10 batters in his first start of June.
Even as the Giants sort through problems in their starting rotation at the major-league level, a promotion for the 25-year-old left-hander isn’t imminent, general manager Zack Minasian told The California Post.
“Not at this point,” Minasian said. “We’ll just continue to let him throw and see what happens. It’s a long season. As long as he keeps throwing well, at some point he’ll get an opportunity.”
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At least for now, that opportunity won’t come as a replacement for either of the struggling veterans they signed to short-term deals to shore up the backend of their rotation.
Entering Adrian Houser’s 13th start of the season Tuesday night, the Giants were 8-15 with either him or Tyler Mahle on the mound.
Houser’s 5.49 ERA through his first 12 starts is the seventh-worst of any starter who’s thrown as many innings (60 ⅔). Tyler Mahle, nearing a return from a hamstring strain, had a higher ERA (6.04) through 11 starts than any qualified starter when he landed on the IL.
Meanwhile, Whisenhunt, rated the Giants’ No. 11 prospect by MLB.com, is 5-2 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 starts at Triple-A, including a 2.66 mark over his past eight dating back to April 28.
It is his third time at the level, after getting a brief sniff of the bigs last summer, but both manager Tony Vitello and Minasian noted the strides he’s taken this time around.
“The progress has been tremendous,” Vitello said. “I’ll just throw it out there: I think he’s next up if there’s a start that’s needed with how he’s done.”
Whisenhunt’s 72 strikeouts (10.13 K/9) are tied for the most of any pitcher in Triple-A. Through his first four minor-league seasons, he averaged well over a strikeout per inning but saw his punchouts plummet last season to only 111 in 131 innings (7.6 K/9).
In another encouraging sign, he issued only one walk in his last outing while generating 22 swings and misses, the most by any pitcher in the minors that day.
In five starts for San Francisco last season, Whisenhunt walked 12 batters in 23 ⅓ innings, posting a 5.06 ERA. He had another chance to stake his claim somewhere on the pitching staff this spring but struggled to find the strike zone again with eight walks in 9 ⅓ innings.
So far this year, he’s put together the combination of strikeout stuff and command of his three-pitch arsenal in a way that he hasn’t since reaching Triple-A as a 23-year-old.
“He’s been great,” Minasian said. “Strikes. Swing and miss. Velo’s been good. We’re excited about where he’s at.”
But he’ll have to wait for his time to come.
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