Susan Slusser

Oracle seagulls beware? This Giants OF hopeful’s line drives have been deadly San Francisco Giants outfielder Will Brennan is competing for a roster spot. He’s experienced, he’s popular, he’s reliable — and he has a past involving on-field avicide and regret.

He’s playing great this spring, he’s reliable - and Oracle seagulls beware? This Giants outfield hopeful’s line drives have been deadly www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Sanchez today eight pitch perfect inning:

Lefty Juan Sanchez could pitch his way into Giants bullpen this summer Juan Sanchez has made an impression on the San Francisco Giants as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, putting himself on Tony Vitello’s radar for relief role in 2026.

Giants short on lefties, but Juan Sanchez -already a Tony Vitello favorite - could pitch his way into bullpen picture this summer after nine years in SF organization, and TJ surgery in 2024: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Rafael Devers returns to action, Bryce Eldridge pushes for Giants job The San Francisco Giants have Rafael Devers back in the lineup, while manager Tony Vitello spoke about the importance of the next two weeks for Bryce Eldridge’s push to earn an Opening Day spot.

Rafael Devers returns to action for Giants as Bryce Eldridge’s push for a job reaches critical point; Sanmartin's injury will keep him out 3 months, so Joey Lucchesi is back, and more: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Erik Miller tells me he’s facing hitters tomorrow. Theoretically this means he might see game action by the end of the week or if he does that twice early next week.

Reiver Sanmartin’s MRI isn’t good news - severe hip flexor strain and he will miss three months.

Vitello asked about where Eldridge might start the season talked a lot about how development is the most important thing for him. Asked whether that happens in SF or Sac to start the season he said, “maybe see where it goes the last couple of weeks of spring training.”

SF lineup vs. LAA (3/9/26)

16 Rafael Devers (L) - DH
26 Matt Chapman - 3B
14 Patrick Bailey (S) - C
2 Willy Adames - SS
10 Casey Schmitt - 1B
58 Grant McCray (L) - CF
56 Jared Oliva - LF
83 Victor Bericoto - RF
39 Osleivis Basabe - 2B

38 Robbie Ray - LHP
45 Caleb Kilian - RHP
81 Juan Sánchez - LHP

Giants players hardly reserved as they vie for backup roles with team The Giants didn't use any projected starters Sunday, but many players who are vying for major-league jobs with the team delivered impressive efforts in a Cactus League win over the Cubs.

Giants players hardly reserved as they vie for backup roles with team - Vitello discusses many of the roster-bubble guys, plus scouts on several of them - and on Josuar Gonzalez: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt took advice that wasn’t for him and fixed his delivery Suddenly, Carson Whisenhunt and his super changeup might be back in the running for the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen spot that Trevor McDonald was starting to claim.

Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt took advice that wasn’t for him and fixed his delivery www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant...

Mike Krukow’s take on Tony Vitello’s ‘crucial’ early Giants results, Bryce Eldridge and more Mike Krukow won’t call a San Francisco Giants telecast until March 23, but he stays in touch. Here are his spring observations on the new manager, the big prospect and the three-time batting...

Mike Krukow’s take on Tony Vitello’s ‘crucial’ early Giants results, Bryce Eldridge and more www.sfchronicle.com/sports/jenki...

F at Cubs
7 Will Brennan (L) - CF
79 Jesús Rodríguez - DH
8 Bryce Eldridge (L) - 1B
29 Luis Matos - RF
6 Daniel Susac - C
10 Casey Schmitt - SS
19 Jerar Encarnacion - LF
89 Parks Harber - 3B
49 Tyler Fitzgerald - 2B

65 Landen Roupp - RHP

Giants vs. Texas
2 Willy Adames - SS
26 Matt Chapman - 3B
14 Patrick Bailey (S) - C
10 Casey Schmitt - 2B
8 Bryce Eldridge (L) - 1B
29 Luis Matos - LF
58 Grant McCray (L) - CF
19 Jerar Encarnacion - RF
6 Daniel Susac - DH

88 Carson Whisenhunt - LHP
Bivens, Gage, Walker

Giants await Rafael Devers’ return, relieved Jung Hoo Lee not seriously hurt San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers may be back soon from hamstring tightness, and Tony Vitello shared his belief Jung Hoo Lee’s ankle injury playing in the WBC shouldn’t shelve the...

Injury updates, plus game action from today - including a large number of roster hopefuls who continued to help their stock: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Fixing Giants’ problems in the outfield, on the bases is this coach’s mission Last season, the San Francisco Giants saw their outfield defense struggle while their baserunning stalled. To fix both problems, Buster Posey turned to a former college teammate.

Fixing Giants’ problems in the outfield and on the bases is this coach’s mission - and Buster Posey's college teammate can still run down flyballs, too, nearly fooling Vitello into thinking he had a fleet new addition: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Giants await Rafael Devers’ return, relieved Jung Hoo Lee not seriously hurt San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers may be back soon from hamstring tightness, and Tony Vitello shared his belief Jung Hoo Lee’s ankle injury playing in the WBC shouldn’t shelve the...

While Rafael Devers nears return to action, Giants relieved Jung Hoo Lee not seriously injured www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Jung Hoo Lee rolled an ankle in WBC game in Japan but Vitello believes it’s minor and won’t affect his ability to play.

Devers likely to play Monday-ish it sounds like but Sunday is a vague possibility. (Home game better - own facilities etc).

SF v Cincy
56 Jared Oliva - CF
6 Daniel Susac - C
2 Willy Adames - SS
83 Victor Bericoto - RF
26 Matt Chapman - 3B
8 Bryce Eldridge (L) - 1B
29 Luis Matos - LF
61 Jake Holton - DH
50 Christian Koss - 2B

54 Tyler Mahle RHP

Giants’ Tony Vitello works to build rapport with MLB umps after viral dustups at Tennessee Tony Vitello came to the San Francisco Giants with a bit of a fiery reputation, ejected five times in eight seasons at Tennessee. He’s making a point to get to know big league umpires ASAP.

Part of the learning curve: Giants’ Tony Vitello works to build rapport with MLB umps, underrated but important part of job: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Former Giants fan favorite Wilmer Flores waiting for a call that may never come Wilmer Flores is unemployed, staying in shape and hoping an MLB team that needs a veteran right-handed bat picks up the phone, but he bears the San Francisco Giants no ill will.

Former Giants fan favorite Wilmer Flores waiting for a call, staying ready in Miami - he did have some talks with SF, he tells me, here’s what the Giants told him, plus why he could still help teams: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Giants’ bullpen options have been quickly thinned by rash of injuries Relievers previously buried on the Giants’ depth chart have a chance to make themselves known after several members of San Francisco’s bullpen have been sidelined.

Giants’ bullpen options have been quickly thinned by rash of injuries - updates plus those getting opportunities who’ve looked especially good: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Reiver Sanmartin says he has a little quad strain from fielding a comebacker in the WBC exhibition game. He’s back here to get checked, unlikely to return to Team Colombia.

SF vs. Seattle, night game
2 Willy Adames - SS
26 Matt Chapman - 3B
7 Will Brennan (L) - LF
10 Casey Schmitt - 1B
29 Luis Matos - RF
58 Grant McCray (L) - CF
61 Jake Holton - DH
18 Eric Haase - C
50 Christian Koss - 2B

38 Robbie Ray LHP

Former Giants fan favorite Wilmer Flores waiting for a call that may never come Wilmer Flores is unemployed, staying in shape and hoping an MLB team that needs a veteran right-handed bat picks up the phone, but he bears the San Francisco Giants no ill will.

Former Giants fan favorite Wilmer Flores waiting for a call, staying ready in Miami - he did have some talks with SF, he tells me, here’s what the Giants told him, plus why he could still help teams: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Giants might not be quick to join MLB teams calling pitches from the bench While San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello entertained the idea of calling pitches from the bench, as he did at Tennessee, there’s been pushback inside the clubhouse.

Giants might not be quick to join MLB teams calling pitches from the bench - especially not with Patrick Bailey behind the plate. Posey, Vitello, Bailey, Webb on the trend to go college-style pitch calling: www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Giants join fans in flocking to see Team USA in pre-WBC exhibition Team USA helped draw a sellout crowd to Tuesday’s exhibition game and thrilled members of the San Francisco Giants as much as anyone in the stands.

Giants join fans in flocking to see Team USA; especially fun day for Bryce Eldridge, who had notable exchanges with Harper and Judge, all the Bednars ("It's a family affair!"), plus a bunch of Giants minor-leaguers who played for Team USA www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Many cool moments for young players today and Bryce Eldridge enjoyed many of them, including Aaron Judge telling him he hopes Eldridge is on Team USA three years from now.

What’s behind new Giant Harrison Bader’s offensive U-turn? The hips don’t lie Motion-capture analytics helped Harrison Bader rediscover his confidence at the plate and might make him more than just a defensive asset with the San Francisco Giants.

From @ShaynaRubin What’s behind new Giant Harrison Bader’s offensive U-turn? The hips don’t lie www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant... via @sfchronicle

Giants vs. USA
2 Willy Adames - SS
26 Matt Chapman - 3B
14 Patrick Bailey (S) - C
83 Victor Bericoto - DH
7 Will Brennan (L) - LF
58 Grant McCray (L) - RF
50 Christian Koss - 2B
8 Bryce Eldridge (L) - 1B
56 Jared Oliva - CF

12 Adrian Houser - RHP