3 things to watch as Vitello guides Giants into Cactus League play

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Tony Vitello has never attended a Spring Training game, which makes sense, considering he worked exclusively in college baseball before he was elevated to manage the Giants in October.

“Everybody says it’s a party down here,” Vitello said. “It seems to be a vibrant environment that everybody talks about.”

Vitello will get his first taste of Cactus League action when the Giants kick off their spring slate against the Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday. Everybody knows Spring Training games don’t count, but they should still be instructive for Vitello, who will get a feel for the ebb and flow of Major League competition and start familiarizing himself with new elements such as the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System.

Vitello’s adjustment to the big leagues will be an ongoing story in Giants camp, but he won’t be the only figure in the spotlight this spring. Here are three other things to watch once Cactus League play begins:

Hayden Birdsong

It’s probably not a coincidence that Birdsong was tabbed to start the Giants’ Cactus League opener. The 24-year-old right-hander has the potential to be the biggest X-factor on the team if he’s back to pumping strikes and flashing the tantalizing stuff that made him such a weapon out of the bullpen at the beginning of last season.

Birdsong logged a 2.31 ERA over his first 11 relief appearances in 2025, but he lost his command when he moved back into the starting rotation. He struggled to a 6.17 ERA over 10 starts before being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in late July; he was never recalled to the Majors after that.

Despite the disappointing season, the Giants believe Birdsong can bounce back and re-establish himself as a big league contributor. He should be an ideal development project for San Francisco's new group of pitching coaches, which includes assistant pitching coach Christian Wonders and director of Major League pitching Frank Anderson, who was known for refining young arms at the University of Tennessee.

“Initially, we talked about the delivery and trying to clean it up a little bit,” Anderson said. “I think he’s really done a good job with that and embracing [it]. They’ve had different people here from the pitching side, and all of a sudden, now you’ve got a new group. So far, I believe he kind of trusts us. I think that’s huge.”

Young outfielders

The Giants’ entire starting outfield -- Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos and Harrison Bader -- is expected to leave camp to participate in the World Baseball Classic next month. That should create plenty of opportunities for several other outfielders to get extended looks during Cactus League play.

Jerar Encarnacion and Luis Matos are both out of options, so they should receive regular at-bats as they attempt to nab reserve outfield spots this spring. Encarnacion, 28, has already been generating hard contact during live batting practice and has the ability to play some first base, so he could have the leg up over the 24-year-old Matos, who has struggled to establish a foothold in the Majors over the past three seasons.

“We’re really just trying to evaluate their whole game,” general manager Zack Minasian said at Cactus League Media Day last week. “They're both talented. We've seen Matos get on hot streaks at the big league level. Jerar has flashed some big power at the big league level. I think he probably surprised even us a little bit defensively, given how physical he is. He was moving around pretty well out there.”

If the Giants choose to carry five outfielders, they could have room for another upstart such as Drew Gilbert, Will Brennan, Grant McCray or non-roster invitee Jared Oliva.

The bullpen competition

The hardest part of the roster to project is the bullpen, which has very few pieces locked into place right now. Ryan Walker should be the favorite to reclaim the closer role if he rebounds from his down season last year, and Erik Miller should serve as the top lefty if he can stay healthy and overcome the season-ending left elbow sprain he sustained in July. José Buttó, Joel Peguero, JT Brubaker and Spencer Bivens are among the holdovers who could have an inside track on relief jobs, but the Giants are expected to audition a big cast of relief options this spring.

Sam Hentges (left shoulder surgery) is being ramped up slowly and has yet to face hitters, which could create an opening for Matt Gage, Reiver Sanmartin or non-roster invitee Juan Sánchez to nab the second lefty spot. Young starters such as Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt and Carson Seymour could also vie for bullpen jobs if they’re left out of the Giants’ rotation to start the season.

One intriguing name to keep an eye on is non-roster invitee Gregory Santos, a former Giants prospect who overpowered hitters with his 100 mph heat during the club’s simulated game on Thursday.

“The stuff was really, really good,” Vitello said.