Giants notes: new reliever Sam Hentges has previous ties to manager Tony Vitello originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — At his introductory press conference in October, Giants manager Tony Vitello mentioned how Bryce Eldridge had turned him down when Vitello was trying to get him to come to Tennessee. Eldridge won’t be the only Giant next season who chose to go pro instead of playing for one of Vitello’s teams.
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New left-handed reliever Sam Hentges was recruited to Arkansas by Vitello in 2014, but he was taken in the fourth round of the MLB draft by the Cleveland Guardians and chose to start his career right out of high school. A decade later, Hentges is hopeful he’s pitching high-leverage innings for Vitello in his first season as a manager.
The Giants signed Hentges to a one-year deal earlier this week, betting that he’ll be able to overcome two recent surgeries and give them another good left-handed option in their bullpen. Hentges had shoulder surgery in 2024 and knee surgery this past August, but on a Zoom call with reporters, he said his rehab is going well and he anticipates being 100 percent by the start of the spring.
Hentges called it a “tough rehab,” and it was interrupted when he felt swelling in his right knee while going through a throwing program following shoulder surgery. He ended up needing a procedure to repair a tear in his meniscus.
Hentges had a 4.18 ERA in four seasons in Cleveland, and over his last three — when he was purely used as a reliever — that number was 2.93, with an even shinier 2.66 FIP. He said the Giants “came in aggressively” when he hit free agency for the first time.
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“The opportunity that they have with Tony Vitello there and some new coaches — we just thought it would be a good fit,” Hentges said. “They came in pretty aggressively from what we were expecting, so it kind of turned out to be a no-brainer decision.”
Hentges said he doesn’t know a lot of current Giants, although he lives in the Phoenix area so he’s working out with other big leaguers and minor leaguers at their Papago complex. He does know Vitello, though, and he’s looking forward to reuniting years after he turned the new manager down.
Another Familiar Face
Hentges let it slip that he has been working with longtime big league right-hander Jesse Chavez, and the Giants confirmed that he has been hired as Vitello’s new bullpen coach. The full staff is still being finalized and will be announced in the coming days.
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Chavez, 42, is as new to coaching as it gets. He made four appearances for the Atlanta Braves last season, capping an 18-year career that included stints with nine different teams. Chavez pitched for the Braves in each of the last four seasons and also spent time with the A’s early in his career.
What Will They Do …
The Marco Luciano waiver claim opened a 40-man roster spot, which may be notable. The Giants didn’t anticipate Luciano competing for a big league job in the spring, but they also didn’t have to make a move with his spot this early.
The spot could go to a free agent or player acquired via trade, but it also allows the Giants to participate in the Rule 5 Draft next Wednesday. They’ll have the 15th selection in the draft.
