"Hentges, 29, posted a 2.93 ERA and 2.66 FIP from 2022-24 but missed all of '25 due to multiple injuries. The left-hander underwent surgery in September 2024 to repair the capsule and labrum in his left shoulder, then also underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery this past September while rehabbing his shoulder. The combination of injuries prevented Hentges from even appearing in a rehab assignment last season, and the Guardians elected to non-tender Hentges last week."
"Hentges stands to bring much-needed strikeout stuff to the Giants' bullpen. The left-hander has a career strikeout rate of 25.2%, his career-high being 29.4% in 2022. Last season, San Francisco's bullpen had a strikeout rate of 21.0%, which ranked 25th in the majors. The left-hander didn't often pitch in higher leverage situations with the Guardians Hentges was seventh on Cleveland in average leverage index in 2024 but he could get opportunities to pitch the seventh or eighth in San Francisco."
"San Francisco's signing of Hentges comes after the team made the somewhat surprising move to non-tender left-hander Joey Lucchesi last week. Lucchesi, who was projected to make $2 million in arbitration per MLB Trade Rumors, had a 3.76 ERA over 38 1/3 innings last season in his first year as a full-time reliever. While Lucchesi pitched well, Lucchesi posted a low strikeout rate of 18.8%, and it's possible that San Francisco's front office wanted to add a reliever who could aid in that department."
Sam Hentges signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Giants. He is a 29-year-old left-handed reliever who posted a 2.93 ERA and 2.66 FIP from 2022-24 but missed 2025 due to multiple injuries. He underwent surgery to repair the capsule and labrum in his left shoulder in September 2024 and arthroscopic right knee surgery while rehabbing. He did not appear in a rehab assignment last season and was non-tendered by the Guardians. Hentges offers a career 25.2% strikeout rate and could boost a San Francisco bullpen that had a 21.0% strikeout rate in 2024. Ryan Walker remains the likely closer.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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