Jimmy Butler on the Giants? This reliever looks a lot like the NBA All-Star

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Around the Giants’ clubhouse, left-hander Reiver Sanmartin isn’t primarily known by his given name.

Most of his teammates tend to refer to him by his nickname: Jimmy.

As in, NBA star Jimmy Butler, who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Sanmartin.

“That’s what I call him,” fellow reliever Erik Miller said. “It’s a little easier off the tongue than Reiver.

“I’m sure many people now kind of jokingly say, ‘What’s up, Jimmy?’ when they see him. And he just laughs. I don’t think he takes anything super serious.”

A native of Cartagena, Colombia, Sanmartin doesn’t consider himself much of a basketball fan, but he’s been aware of his celebrity doppelganger for years.

“Everyone calls me that,” Sanmartin said, laughing. “Even on my old team [the Reds], everyone called me that. They didn’t say my first name, or my last name, only Jimmy.”

Sanmartin broke into the big leagues with Cincinnati, where he logged a 5.66 ERA in 62 relief appearances across parts of four seasons from 2021-25. The Giants claimed him off waivers in November, giving the 29-year-old a chance to compete for a bullpen spot this spring.

It didn’t take long for the Butler comparisons to follow when Sanmartin reported to Giants camp last month.

“In the first, ‘Hey, I’m so and so,’ meeting, it came up pretty quick,” right-hander Spencer Bivens said.

“I was looking at him when I say good morning to him,” righty Carson Seymour said. “I was like, ‘This guy looks like somebody famous.’”

“When they said it, it was like, ‘Oh my god,’” Miller said. “I’m not a big NBA guy. I’m not like a huge Golden State [fan]. But I 100% agree. He definitely looks like him.”

Sanmartin said he actually owns a Miami Heat Butler jersey that was gifted to him by one of his former Reds teammates. He knows he might have to buy a new one now that Butler is a member of the Golden State Warriors, who play right down the road from Oracle Park at Chase Center in San Francisco.

“I need to get another one of his jerseys,” Sanmartin said in Spanish. “We’ll see if I manage to confuse people.”

Sanmartin has given up one run over two innings in his first two Cactus League appearances, but he could have a clearer path to the Opening Day bullpen now that two other lefties -- Miller (lower back tightness) and Sam Hentges (left shoulder surgery) -- have been set back by injuries this spring.

Still, his push for a roster spot will briefly be put on hold, as he departed Giants camp on Sunday to join Team Colombia for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Colombia is expected to compete in Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico, alongside Cuba, Canada, Panama and Puerto Rico, whose roster includes Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos.

“Wearing our country’s jersey will always be a source of pride,” Sanmartin said. “I know it’s going to be an excellent experience.“

Sanmartin said he’s particularly eager to learn from Colombian captain and 14-year MLB veteran Jose Quintana, a fellow left-hander whom he’s long admired.

“Ever since I signed and started following baseball, I really liked our captain,” Sanmartin said. “He always inspired me because he’s a lefty with the same velocity and the same pitches, and he’s had a great career.”

Webb gets final Classic tuneup
Logan Webb gave up one run on two hits over three innings in his second Cactus League start in the Giants’ 9-1 win over the Padres on Sunday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium. The 29-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked none in the 38-pitch outing, which will be his final start before he suits up for Team USA in the WBC.

Webb went out to the bullpen to throw an extra 15 pitches after exiting the game, bringing his overall count up to 50. He expects to be available to throw 60-65 pitches in his first start for Team USA.

“I think Spring Training is really just trying to get your innings up and get your pitches up,” Webb said. “I feel really good. I’m excited. I definitely think there were some good nerves today. I think knowing that I’m going to go pitch for Team USA, maybe that’s kind of in the back of my mind.”

Webb will join Team USA for a workout at the Giants’ player development complex at Papago Park on Monday. He’ll return to Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday, when the American squad is slated to play an exhibition game against the Giants.

“I’ll be Team USA,” Webb said. “I’m going to be talking crap to all these guys in here.”