Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Hunter Bishop has not yet made the majors, but he might make a good general manager.
After the Giants’ first-round pick in 2019 called for the club to claim his brother, Farhan Zaidi’s crew did just that. The Giants added Braden Bishop, who had been designated for assignment by the Mariners, and optioned the 27-year-old to Triple-A Sacramento before Monday’s game in Cincinnati.
Braden Bishop, who went to St. Francis High School in Mountain View, played three years in Seattle without a prolonged chance, receiving 99 plate appearances from 2019-21 and batting .133. The outfielder has a good pedigree in the minors and was a third-round pick out of the University of Washington in 2015 and should offer more minor league outfield depth to a unit that is crowded at the big-league level but a bit shallow in Triple-A, with Jaylin Davis still out to injury. Bishop has an option still.
Hunter had lobbied on Twitter for the Giants to pick up his brother and now could one day share a big-league outfield with him.
The two lost their mother, Suzy Bishop, to early onset Alzheimer’s disease and created the 4MOM Charity, whose goal is the fight for “the world’s first survivor of Alzheimer’s,” in response.
Braden Bishop spearheaded the charity, and if he stays within the Giants’ organization, he should have plenty of time in the Bay Area to further it.
No matter what anyone says about his baseball (all you haters), he’s the type of human to leave a lasting impact and legacy. Couldn’t be more proud of this guy. Love you @bradenbishop7 https://t.co/tRtcP7Uhrr
— Hunter Bishop (@_HunterBishop_) May 17, 2021
It’s been a roller-coaster May for Braden, who became a father, was waived by the Mariners and now joins his brother’s organization.
The Giants have a good deal of outfielders on their 40-man roster, Bishop making 11 (which includes Davis, who’s on the 60-day IL). It will be curious to see if they deem the surplus sustainable.
The corresponding move to adding Bishop was placing Reyes Moronta on the 60-day injured list. The righty has not pitched since April 10 after first a right elbow flexor strain and then a “mild sprained ligament,” feeling tightness in his forearm during a rehab bullpen session.
The 28-year-old missed the 2020 campaign following shoulder surgery and will miss at least a chunk of this year.