SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- No Giants pitcher has boosted his stock as much as Trevor McDonald has this spring.
The 25-year-old right-hander continued to make his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster by working four innings of two-run ball in the Giants’ 3-3 tie with the White Sox at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday night.
McDonald emerged as one of the most promising young arms in camp after firing six scoreless innings in his first three relief appearances, though he wasn’t quite as sharp in his first Cactus League start on Thursday.
McDonald allowed his first runs of the spring on a pair of solo shots to Lenyn Sosa and Derek Hill, leaving him with a 1.80 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 10 innings.
“I’m happy with it,” McDonald said of his overall body of work. “Obviously, you don’t want to go out and give up any runs, but it’s unrealistic to not [give up runs]. It’s going to happen. I just try to keep going out there, pounding the zone and competing. Just giving us a chance every time I get out there.”
McDonald, who is ranked the Giants’ No. 16 prospect by MLB Pipeline, impressed after logging a 1.80 ERA over three Major League appearances (two starts) last September. He’s been able to carry that momentum into Cactus League action thus far, which could set him up for a bigger role on the pitching staff this year.
“Coming into this spring, it makes you hungry to get back up there and compete and try to start the year back up there,” McDonald said. “It’s definitely a boost of confidence, and it was encouraging at the end of the year.”
San Francisco’s rotation appears set right now, with Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Landen Roupp, Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser locked into the starting spots, but McDonald could end up forcing his way into the Opening Day bullpen if he continues to look like one of the best pitchers in camp this month.
Manager Tony Vitello said McDonald’s name has come up a lot when he’s discussed possible roster permutations with other Giants decision makers.
“In a fun fashion, we argue and debate and throw out theories in there,” Vitello said. “He's one that's probably been talked about the most when you're trying to make anything stick against the wall. I think he's incredibly versatile.”
What else has Vitello learned about McDonald this spring?
“I think just how well-rounded of a guy he is and the type of competitor he is,” Vitello said. “He's got a little bit of emotion to wear on his sleeve, but I think if you're in the dugout or in the bullpen with him, you get a greater sense of like, he’s just a bulldog.”
McDonald has primarily been used as a starter in the Minors, but he’s shown that his stuff can tick up in shorter stints, which could make him an even more intriguing relief option for the Giants. He topped out at 97.2 mph while pitching one inning against the A’s on Feb. 23, a big jump from the 93 mph he averaged on his sinker last year.
“It’s in the tank,” McDonald said. “If you look back a couple of years in the Minor Leagues, I was there. I’ve just kind of been a lot more intentional on my sleep, my recovery and what I’ve been putting in my body this offseason. I felt really good coming into camp. I think that’s just all that now showing on the field.”
Worth noting
• The Giants made their first round of cuts on Thursday, with right-hander Will Bednar, catcher Diego Cartaya, outfielder Bo Davidson and right-hander Trent Harris all being reassigned to Minor League camp.
• Center fielder Harrison Bader returned to Giants camp on Thursday following a brief World Baseball Classic stint with Team Israel, which didn’t advance past the first round after going 2-2 in Pool D in Miami.
• Left-hander Erik Miller is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut against the Reds on Friday, which will mark his first relief appearance for the Giants since July 2, 2025.
Miller missed the second half of last season with a left elbow injury and has been sidelined with lower back tightness this spring, but Vitello said he believes the 28-year-old reliever still has enough time to ramp up for Opening Day on March 25.