SF Giants activate OF Austin Slater, option RHP Tristan Beck to Triple-A
San Francisco Giants rookie Tristan Beck had an incredible series in Milwaukee out of the bullpen. Beck threw 6.1 scoreless innings in two relief appearances, striking out six, walking none, and yielding a single hit. He picked up his first major league save in the Giants' 15-1 win Friday, and kept the team in the game Sunday.
His reward is a trip back to AAA Sacramento. That's because Austin Slater has finally recovered from his second hamstring injury of the season.
There's three reasons Beck was the one sent down to make room for Slater. One is that he has options, meaning the Giants can send him down to the minors five times this year. He also just pitched Sunday, after a long outing Friday, so he wasn't going to pitch for a few days anyway.
The third is that Beck has been a starting pitcher throughout his career, and the Giants may want to stretch him out as a rotation option now, with Ross Stripling hurt and Sean Manaea settling into his long relief role.
Slater's return was perfectly timed, as the Giants started a six-game homestand facing the Pittsburgh Pirates and their ageless lefty, Rich "Dick Mountain" Hill. Slater's one of the best hitters on the Giants against left-handed pitching, slashing 291/.381/.473 for his career.
He demonstrated his dominance over southpaws in the second inning.
Slater will provide Gabe Kapler with extra opportunities to platoon, one of his favorite activities along with eating steak and describing disgusting toe injuries. He's also an extra option to play center, once the team trusts his balky hamstring. That means that Bryce Johnson may head to Sacramento the next time the Giants need an extra bullpen arm, especially with Blake Sabol and Brett Wisely capable of playing the outfield.
Austin Slater is back. Don't be surprised if Tristan Beck is back soon too.
