This column is an excerpt from our Section 415 newsletter, where we cover the biggest stories in Bay Area sports each Monday and Friday. To sign up, visit The Standard’s newsletter page and select Section 415. It’s free to subscribe!
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With a smile wrapped across his face, Carson Whisenhunt looked downright giddy as he invited reporters to chat in front of his locker at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Who could blame him? The Giants left-hander had just lowered his Cactus League ERA to 14.29.
“I needed a cue,” Whisenhunt said. “I’ve been searching for one, and that worked.”
In two forgettable outings to open the spring, Whisenhunt said he lost his command because he was “quad-dominant” and “getting kind of pushy off the mound.” Whisenhunt overheard a coaching point bullpen coach Jesse Chavez passed along to Giants starter Adrian Houser and brought it to the mound against the Texas Rangers.
This mystery cue worked wonders for Whisenhunt, who threw three scoreless innings, struck out five batters, and firmly placed himself back in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot.
“Sometimes cues you’ve used your whole life won’t work,” Whisenhunt said. “And it’s like, OK, what do I go to now?”
Welcome to spring training, where the vibes are immaculate, the stats hardly matter, and everyone is one mechanical adjustment away from a breakthrough. Take Jerar Encarnación, who was having a terrible spring before a 3-for-3 afternoon against the Rangers.
“He’s starting to get a little rhythm and timing,” bench coach Jayce Tingler said. “We know he can hit.”
Today
4 days ago
Tuesday, Mar. 3
In the early days of spring training, success is better measured on the putting green than the diamond. Players race out of the clubhouse after workouts to make afternoon tee times at Grayhawk, Quintero, and We-Ko-Pa.
That changes once games start. Multiple players say catcher Logan Porter, who has a 1.5 handicap, is the best golfer in the clubhouse. Porter said he hasn’t swung his clubs in a month, but he played enough rounds to have an idea of who’s better off sticking to baseball.
Porter said Will Brennan, JT Brubaker, and catching coach Alex Burg are all solid golfers before pointing to a row of lockers belonging to young pitchers including Whisenhunt and Hayden Birdsong.
“Awful,” Porter said.
Manager Tony Vitello acknowledged the feel-good atmosphere won’t last forever, in large part because tough decisions are looming. Vitello spent Saturday watching a slew of prospects take on the Diamondbacks in a split-squad game, including 18-year-old shortstop Josuar Gonzalez.
“He plays with a passion that you’re kind of seeing in the World Baseball Classic right now,” Vitello said.
Gonzalez — a top international signee in 2024 — is years away from reaching the big leagues, but Vitello’s goal this spring is to build relationships with as many Giants as possible. Whether it’s with Bruce Bochy, who was in camp all weekend, or players who won’t be able to boost the team in the near future, spring training is the rare time where the only number that really matters is how many people you meet that can help you along the way.
“Pablo Sandoval is coming in soon,” Vitello said. “So I’ve gotta believe I can learn a thing or two from him. More than anything, I just want to shake his hand.”