The SF Giants officially re-signed right-handed relief pitcher Cole Waites to a minor league contract, per his official page on MLB.com. Waites was among a trio of pitching prospects non-tendered by San Francisco earlier this offseason to clear space on the 40-man roster. However, it's not uncommon for teams to reach verbal agreements on minor-league contracts with players they want to keep in the organization prior to non-tendering them.
Waites' 2023 season was derailed by multiple injuries, and it ended in September when he underwent UCL surgery. He was expected to be a key contributor in the Giants bullpen coming into the year (preseason #26 prospect), but ultimately made just three MLB appearances, allowing five runs across 2.1 innings pitched. He also struggled at Triple-A, posting a 6.16 ERA with 27 walks and 32 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched (32 appearances).
Waites made his big-league debut with the Giants last season and became the first player drafted under amateur scouting director Michael Holmes to reach the majors with the Giants. San Francisco had selected Waites in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of West Alabama.
Waites had first undergone UCL surgery in 2019 and did not return to the mound until more than halfway through the 2021 season. However, once he did, he dominated the lower minors. The Giants obviously hope he will be able to rebound from surgery in a similar fashion the second time around.
In 2022, Waites shot through the minor leagues, racking up 76 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A with a 1.94 ERA. After receiving his call up in September, he made seven appearances and allowed just two runs in 5.2 innings.
The timing of Cole Waites surgery led him to be removed from the 40-man roster, and will likely keep him sidelined for the entire 2024 season. However, the SF Giants have kept him in the organization and likely agreed to a two-year deal, giving him an opportunity to regain a spot in the team's bullpen in 2025.
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