Just yesterday, Brady wrote about how Erik Miller would be shutdown for another couple of weeks as he worked his way back from left elbow inflammation. A day later and it seems the Giants have seen enough, transferring Erik Miller and that barking elbow to the 60-day injured list, effectively ending his season.
Miller started the season as the lone lefty in the then-impressive Giants’ bullpen and he was a big reason for the team’s early season success, posting a 1.50 ERA in 30 IP and generating 1.5 rWAR
in that span. Walks were certainly an issue — he had 20 in that innings total, pumping up his FIP to an ugly 3.95 — but he was effective enough and the injury helped him peace out before the bill came due. What was concerning — and what might have been a leading indicator that he had an arm problem — was the lowered strikeout totals. Just 22 against those 20 walks. Compare that to last season when he struck out 87 in 67.1 IP and you can see why the Giants were eager to elevate his stature in the pen but also why he just wasn’t quite right this season.
The move creates a spot on the 40-man roster, which the Giants have filled with 28-year old RHP Joel Peguero. You may remember hearing about him back in March. Joel Peguero was the Barney Nugent Award winner at the end of Spring Training, as his “performance and dedication in Spring Training best exemplif[ied] the San Francisco Giants spirit,” a thing you can do when you’re blowing guys away with 100+ mph fastballs.
He’s played nine seasons of minor league baseball and has never appeared in the majors. I suspect we’ll see him today. For the River Cats this season, he’s registered a 5.10 ERA in 42.1 IP and a 2:1 K:BB (46:23). He’s also allowed just 4 home runs — but he’s uncorked 7 wild pitches. But since July 1st, he’s been a whole new pitcher, with a 3.84 ERA and 3:1 K:BB (25:8). This is the inspirational baseball story about perseverance you like to see at the end of a lost season and I’ll be watching his debut with interest.
To make room for him on the 26-man roster, the Giants optioned both Kai-Wei Teng and Grant McCray. McCray’s spot will be filled by Luis Matos, who has been on a tear of late, going 8-for-22 with a pair of homers and a trio of doubles in his last five games. Finally, in preparation for the getaway to Milwaukee, Carson Whisenhunt has appeared on the taxi squad, per Alex Pavlovic.
