The SF Giants recalled right-handed pitcher Sean Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday. To create a spot on the roster for Hjelle, the Giants placed left-handed reliever Jarlin García on the Paternity List. While Hjelle is not expected to make any starts with the Giants over the next few days, San Francisco is expected to use a bullpen game on Wednesday and Hjelle will likely be used in the bulk-innings role.
This season, Hjelle has a 4.92 ERA in 97 innings pitched (22 starts) at Triple-A with 80 strikeouts and 38 walks. He has also made six appearances with the Giants this year and has an 8.44 ERA in 16 innings with 18 strikeouts and five walks. Despite his big-league struggles, Hjelle has been quite effective in two of his three outings in September, with a solid 4+ inning outing against the Rockies and Brewers. Granted, he also allowed six runs in just 1+ inning of work against the Dodgers. He was optioned back to the minors last week to clear a spot for Jharel Cotton.
Hjelle was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2018 draft. A nearly seven-foot-tall righty out of the University of Kentucky, Hjelle has always relied on a low-90s fastball and curveball as his primary pitches. However, recently, he has begun introducing a cutter into his pitch mix.
Hjelle quickly moved through the minors as a professional, reaching Double-A by the end of 2019. In 2021, Hjelle had a 3.15 ERA in 14 starts at Double-A Richmond with 69 strikeouts in 65.2 innings pitched against just 19 walks before he was promoted to Triple-A. He struggled once reaching the highest level of the minors, though, finishing the year with a 5.74 ERA in 10 starts with Sacramento.
García has been one of San Francisco's most consistent relief pitchers since he was acquired off waivers prior to the 2020 season. Over the past three years, García has a 2.51 ERA across 133 appearances with 136 strikeouts in 150.1 innings pitched. This season, García has a 2.98 ERA in 63.1 innings (56 appearances).
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