Bochy lays out game plan for pitchers, Posey

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants’ rotation for the first five Cactus League games is officially set, with Chris Stratton slated to start Saturday’s opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Ty Blach is expected to pitch after Stratton on Saturday.

The rest of the order is as follows: Madison Bumgarner on Sunday, Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz on Monday, Dereck Rodriguez on Tuesday and Jeff Samardzija and Andrew Suarez next Wednesday. Each will likely be limited to 20-25 pitches in his Cactus League debut.

Manager Bruce Bochy said most of the Giants’ regular position players will likely be held out of action early.

Buster Posey, who is coming off right hip surgery, isn’t expected to catch until March 1 or so, though Bochy said Posey could appear in a game before then as a designated hitter.

“When I was a kid, I was one of those kids that skipped school to watch Spring Training games in Florida, and I wanted to see our guys,” Bochy said Wednesday. “I’m aware that fans are coming here hoping to see their guys. We try to put our guys out there as much as we can, but the priority is to get them ready and not have any risk of injury.”

Adon lights up radar gun

Prospect Melvin Adon was among the Giants' pitchers who threw live batting practice on Wednesday, and he did not hold back while facing hitters on the backfield.

“I missed him, but they said he was letting it go over there,” Bochy said. “That’s a tough field to hit on. He was running 100 [mph].”

Adon, a 24-year-old right-hander, has been a starter in the Minors, but he turned heads in the Arizona Fall League after posting a 2.92 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings while working exclusively in relief for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Bochy said Adon will start the season as a reliever, which could help accelerate his path to the Majors.

“I can’t tell you where he’s going to start this year, but he’s on a fast pace,” Bochy said. “He’s really come on, and his command has been really good, I think. You look at the Fall League and the way he threw the ball, of course, that caught everybody’s eye. That kind of stuff, he’s a good end-of-the-game guy.”

Callahan rehabbing

Jaime Callahan, who signed a Minor League deal over the offseason, is rehabbing from right shoulder surgery and is not expected to pitch in any Cactus League games this spring. Callahan, 24, has reached 120 feet in his throwing program.

“He’s making progress,” Bochy said. “We knew his situation when we got him and knew that he wouldn’t be ready to pitch here.”