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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Carson Whisenhunt was 8 years old, he threw his first changeup. He has not stopped throwing it since, so it is no surprise his signature pitch has now developed into one of the best in the Minor Leagues.

“I didn’t throw a curveball until I got into high school,” he said. “The changeup was always my go-to offspeed [pitch]. It’s definitely been a different grip over time, but I’ve got one now [that] I’ve had for three years, and it’s still a work in progress.”

The plus-plus pitch approaches hitters in the low 80s before tumbling to the plate. Whisenhunt has shown the ability to manipulate the depth and shape to avoid barrels.

With the “cambio” in his arsenal, Whisenhunt caught the attention of the Giants in the Cape Cod League. His performance led him to be the final pick of the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

He quickly rose through the Minors.

Just two months into his first full pro season, Whisenhunt reached Double-A with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Among the three teams he played for in 2023 (Single-A San Jose, High-A Eugene, Richmond), Whisenhunt had a 2.45 ERA, recorded 83 strikeouts and allowed 37 hits, 20 runs (16 earned) and three home runs in 16 starts. His productivity earned him a selection to the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

The left-handed pitcher, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Giants’ No. 3 prospect and No. 83 in baseball, was moving fast until he was sidelined in late July with a left elbow sprain.

“It wasn’t ideal, but I’m glad we caught it when we did before it turned into something worse,” he said.

Whisenhunt received a cortisone shot for treatment. Not rushing his recovery would prove the key for him to heal.

“The rest of it was just time off,” he said. “Slow playing and making sure everything was healthy before we got back into anything.”

Everything went smoothly for Whisenhunt. He is now focusing on moving forward and leaving the injury behind him. He’s done just that so far, and received a non-roster invite for Major League Spring Training this year for the first time in his career.

“It’s definitely a lot different than the Minor League side, but it’s been fun, and I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “It’s been a big help being around [Alex] Cobb and [Logan] Webb.”

During his time in Major League camp, Whisenhunt worked on getting his fastball in the zone, throwing curveballs for strikes and getting his changeup “back to where it should be.”

“Sometimes I have it -- like, most of the time I do -- but the last couple of times I’ve thrown, it’s just not exactly what I want out of it,” he said. “I’ve been working on that, just trying to get that comfort back.”

Whisenhunt did not play in a Cactus League game before he was reassigned to Minor League camp on March 13, but he is poised to continue to move quickly through the system once he returns to game action.

Whisenhunt is very excited about being part of a group of promising pitching prospects. He believes that if everyone stays healthy, they can get a chance to pitch in the big leagues.

“I think we have a really talented group,” he said. “I’m hoping for the best for everybody.”