The SF Giants have re-signed former Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Cody Stashak to a minor-league contract earlier this month, per his transactions page. Stashak has been assigned to Triple-A Sacramento and it is unclear whether he has received an invitation to spring training or not. Stashak appeared in the majors with the Twins in every season from 2019-2022 but underwent shoulder surgery in June of 2022 and was subsequently non-tendered. Unable to land a deal with an MLB organization, Stashak had a stint with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League before signing a minor-league deal with the Giants in August.
The Giants did not wait long to pounce on signing Stashak once he appeared in an independent league. He made just two appearances with the Barnstormers, striking out four of the seven hitters he faced across two perfect innings of work before he signed with San Francisco. Prior to the end of the season, Stashak struggled in five appearances at Triple-A Sacramento. He allowed seven earned runs on six hits, a walk, and three home runs with four strikeouts in five innings pitched.
When healthy, Stashak's arsenal has aligned with the Giants' breaking ball-heavy approach to middle relief under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. Stashak's fastball has consistently sat in the low 90s, never averaging more than 91.9 mph in a full MLB season. Without premium velocity, Stashak has leaned on an impressive slider, which he threw more often than his heater in 2021 and 2022.
The Twins drafted Stashak in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of St. John's University. A starter in college, Stashak continued to develop in the rotation before he reached Double-A. Once he arrived in the upper minors, though, Stashak began appearing in more abbreviated outings as a reliever. He was incredibly effective and forced his way to the majors by 2019.
Stashak was immediately effective in the big leagues, posting a 3.24 ERA (3.01 FIP) with 25 strikeouts and just one walk in 25 innings pitched (18 appearances). It was the beginning of a consistently effective tenure in Minnesota for Stashak, but one that would be hampered by injuries.
Stashak has not made more than 20 appearances in a year since 2019, given a limited workload in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign before a back injury sidelined him for most of 2021. Then, he tore his labrum last June. Despite the injuries, Stashak has a solid career 4.38 ERA (2.98 FIP and 4.16 xFIP) in 72 innings pitched (55 games) with 83 strikeouts and 14 walks.
The SF Giants have had success betting on the ability of previously solid relievers to bounce back from injuries under Zaidi. Players like Scott Alexander and John Brebbia are two recent examples. Now, they will look to continue building on that success with former Twins righty Cody Stashak.
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