Left-hander Surkamp designated for assignment
Pitching prospect's career slowed by elbow injury, Tommy John surgery
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants announced Friday that left-hander Eric Surkamp, formerly regarded as a potential candidate for the club's starting rotation, was designated for assignment.
The move created room on the 40-man roster for the Giants to add their last two free-agent signees, right-hander Ryan Vogelsong and outfielder Michael Morse.
Surkamp, rated No. 12 by MLB.com among the Giants' Top 20 Prospects, made a promising return from Tommy John elbow surgery, which he underwent on July 24, 2012. He posted a 7-1 record with a 2.78 ERA in 11 starts for Triple-A Fresno after a five-game tune-up at Class A San Jose. Triple-A opponents hit just .221 off him.
The Giants summoned Surkamp to San Francisco to start the first game of a doubleheader against Cincinnati at AT&T Park. Surkamp struggled, yielding seven runs in 2 2/3 innings as the Reds triumphed, 9-3. Home runs by Devin Mesoraco and Joey Votto were among the nine hits Surkamp yielded. That was his lone appearance of the season for San Francisco.
Surkamp, 26, appeared to have an outside chance at competing for a starting role after 2011, when he recorded a 2-2 mark with a 5.74 ERA in six late-season starts for the Giants. He still needed development, having walked 17 and struck out 13 in 26 2/3 innings at the Major League level. Surkamp's elbow problems began the following spring.
The Giants have 10 days to trade or waive Surkamp or receive his acceptance of the assignment.