SF Giants prospects: RHP Hayden Birdsong promoted to Double-A
Aggressive promotion has been the theme in the SF Giants farm system this year and yesterday was no different as they pushed Hayden Birdsong (Giants Top 34 Prospect) up to Double-A Richmond. Birdsong is the fourth player from the 2022 Giants draft class to have reached the upper minors, joining second-rounder Carson Whisenhunt, eighth-rounder Wade Meckler (who was recently promoted to Triple-A), and tenth-rounder John Michael Bertrand.
Drafted in the sixth round from Eastern Illinois University, Birdsong impressed the Giants scouts in his performance at the Northwoods League last year where he struck out 33 batters in just 17.1 innings pitched. He is already touted as one of the biggest potential risers in the farm system entering the season. He started the season as one of the best pitchers in the California League with a 2.16 ERA and a 38% strikeout rate in 41.2 innings pitched at Single-A. He's also held California League hitters to a .218 batting average. It prompted the Giants to promote him to High-A.
His first taste of the Northwest League was off to a bad start when he easily pitched his worst outing of the season having surrendered eight earned runs in his PK Park debut. The right-hander was dominant after his lowest point of the season with a 1.55 ERA and a 37.7% strikeout rate in 29 innings pitched across his last six outings. He was at his absolute best on the Fourth of July as he threw five no-hit innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters en route to a combined no-hitter for the Emeralds.
Birdsong has some of the best stuff in the organization with a four-pitch arsenal. His best pitch is a fastball that can reach up to 97 mph with the ability to hold the velocity deep into his starts and a knee-buckling curveball. A common theme among power pitchers like Birdsong is honing the ability to control the stuff. The Giants brass promoted him to High-A despite having a 12% walk rate with the hopes of him improving it against better competition. He responded to the call with a minuscule 4.7% walk rate over his last six outings, leading the Giants to push him even further.
With his newfound control, it is easy to see why Hayden Birdsong is highly touted by the SF Giants brass and received another promotion. He is certainly on a fast track to becoming a part of the big-league equation, possibly as soon as 2024, if he can continue to dominate the way he already has this season.
