The SF Giants re-signed left-handed pitcher Thomas Szapucki to a minor-league deal, according to the league's official transaction tracker. Szapucki, who was ranked the 14th-best Giants prospect heading into 2023, was non-tendered off the 40-man roster by the team last month alongside two other pitching prospects. All three (Szapucki, Cole Waites, and José Cruz) have all subsequently re-signed with San Francisco on minor-league contracts.
Szapucki was acquired by the Giants at the 2022 MLB trade deadline ain a package for Darin Ruf. The Giants converted Szapucki into a full-time reliever after the trade, and he immediately thrived. He recorded a 1.08 ERA with 15 strikeouts and three walks in 8.1 innings pitched with the Giants Triple-A affiliate before finishing the season in San Francisco's bullpen with a 1.98 ERA (16 strikeouts and four walks) in 13.2 innings. Szapucki became a two-pitch reliever, using a mid-90s fastball and low-80s curveball. He has also used a solid changeup in the past.
He seemed to be a potential setup option heading into 2023 but was sidelined by left arm neuropathy in May and eventually underwent season-ending surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome. Thoracic outlet syndrome is generally considered one of the most difficult health complications for a pitcher to recover from. However, players are generally able to return to the field within six months, which would suggest Szapucki will be back on the mound in spring training.
The Mets drafted Szapucki in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of high school. The lefty developed in the Mets' farm system as a starting pitcher and quickly established himself as one of the top-10 prospects in the organization. In 2021, following the cancelled 2020 minor-league season, Szapucki was limited to just 10 appearances due to injury, leading his prospect stock to drop. Szapucki was an effective hybrid starter with the Mets Triple-A affiliate but was crushed in his long MLB appearance with the Mets.
By managing to re-sign Thomas Szapucki, Cole Waites, and José Cruz to minor-league contracts, the SF Giants were effectively able to create three more open 40-man roster spots without losing a single player from organizational depth. Now all three will look to rebuild their stock and return to a big-league bullpen as soon as possible.
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