Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
As the Giants make a push for their present, they will get a glimpse at their possible future.
Conner Menez will make his major league debut Sunday at Oracle Park against the Mets, taking Drew Pomeranz’s spot in the rotation. Pomeranz is being moved to the bullpen, though Bruce Bochy emphasized the move is not necessarily permanent. There was no corresponding move yet to add Menez to the 40-man roster, as the Giants will wait until Sunday to make it official.
Menez, the team’s No. 21 prospect, is a bearded lefty from Hollister who has shot from Double-A Richmond to Triple-A Sacramento to the Giants.
“Well-earned call up for Conner. Really nice job this year,” Bochy said Saturday, adding the 24-year-old has four pitches and has been commanding the ball well. Asked for a scouting report, Bochy joked, “You want me to give it for them?” nodding at the Mets dugout.
Through 95 minor league innings, Menez carried a 3.13 ERA and struck out 123. He struggled a bit after getting promoted to Sacramento, but pitched 11 2/3 innings of one-run, 15-strikeout ball in his last two starts.
Bochy wanted to emphasize the situation is fluid, particularly with Pomeranz, who is coming off a solid start against the Rockies: five innings, one run. But Pomeranz, who has very good stuff yet has not been efficient, hasn’t thrown six innings in a start since April.
“Another experienced left-hander in the bullpen,” said Bochy, who said he would not use Will Smith on Saturday.
The Giants have been handling their bullpen carefully over the past few days, both in the sudden heat of a wild-card chase and before the trade deadline.
“This is what happens when you’re winning and you’re playing close games,” Bochy said. “Those guys get used a lot.”