DENVER, CO — The Giants have inked Ka’ai Tom to a minor league contract, the Rivercats announced Friday.
Tom, 27, made his major league debut this season with the Oakland Athletics. The Rule 5 pick hit .139 in 16 plate appearances for Oakland.
The Pirates claimed Tom off waivers in April, but he also struggled in Pittsburgh, slashing 152/.308/.261 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and 11 RBIs in 39 games.
Tom has hit the injured list this year with both wrist and back injuries. The highlight of Tom’s young MLB career was breaking up a German Marquez no-hit bid on June 30.
Tom, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB Draft by Cleveland, has reported to Triple-A Sacramento.
The signing comes one day after the Giants added another former Pirate, first baseman John Nogoowski. Neither Tom nor Nogowski will be eligible for SF’s postseason roster.
- Gabe Kapler said Johnny Cueto came out of Thursday’s rehab start feeling good, but there are “no immediate plans” for him rejoining the big league club. Cueto is on track, but still has to build up after his hamstring injury. For the Rivercats, Cueto pitched 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and a run. He threw 40 pitches, walking and striking out one batter.
- Jake McGee has progressed his rehab process to the stage of throwing out to 90 feet. There have been no setbacks, Kapler said Friday. The Giants hope he can return before the playoffs begin.
- John Brebbia is in Colorado with the team, but hasn’t been called up from Triple-A.
- Both Alex Wood and Rockies starter Peter Lambert will be on pitch counts in Coors Field Friday. Lambert is making his first MLB start in 735 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020.
- For a detailed, insightful look at who Gabe Kapler is, read this story in The Athletic about the presumptive 2021 National League Manager of the Year.