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What to Expect from Giants Pitching Prospect Carson Whisenhunt

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 10:32 AM ET

It’s been well over a year since Carson Whisenhunt, a highly-regarded pitching prospect, made his Triple-A debut. Now, the Giants will see what he can offer at the Major League level. San Francisco will promote Whisenhunt on July 29, bringing his powerful changeup to the Majors.

A Look at Whisenhunt

The Giants drafted Carson Whisenhunt in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of East Carolina. Whisenhunt was one of the nation’s top left-handers heading into that year’s draft, as he struck out 79 over 62 innings in 2021 and played a key role for a Pirates team that’s produced plenty of pitching talent (Gavin Williams, Zach Root, Trey Yesavage) over the years.

Whisenhunt, however, did not pitch in 2022 after a one-year suspension for a performance-enhancing drug positive test.

He stormed through the lower Minors in 2023, as he struck out 83 over 58 frames and earned himself a Futures Game pick and a promotion to Double-A in 2023. Whisenhunt moved to Triple-A in 2024, and despite a 5.42 ERA with the Rivercats, he struck out 135 over 104 frames last season.

This year, the strikeout numbers have been more muted. He punched out 86 over 97.2 IP this season with Sacramento.

When Whisenhunt was in university, he had a heavy ground-ball lean (55 GO, 43 AO). That’s roughly remained true in pro ball, although his numbers have skewed more fly-ball in Triple-A over the last two seasons (.99 GO/AO in ’24, 1.02 in ’25).

Carson Whisenhunt 2025 Pitch Movement AAA Via New Baseball Media

Not a shock given those numbers, Whisenhunt relies on his sinker, as he relies exclusively on that as his fastball offering. It sits in the low-to-mid-90s but can get late swings-and-misses. However, it’s not a true sinker but more of a riser; it had a mean IVB of 14.5”, well below the MLB left-hander average as far as vertical movement is concerned.

What can make that pitch pop is his secondary stuff.

Whisenhunt’s changeup, which pairs very well with the two-seamer from a movement profile, netted him elite whiff rates in the Minors. Last year, it had a strong 47.8% Whiff%. This year, it’s down, at 35.6%.

Carson Whisenhunt AAA Whiff 2025 While the changeup is a well-regarded pitch, his slider did work for him in Triple-A, as well. (via New Baseball Media)

That changeup is a low-80s offering, around a 10 MPH velocity differential off the fastball.

Additionally, Whisenhunt will work with a mid-80s slider. Like the changeup, that pitch too was a swing-and-miss generator, with a 36% Whiff% and good downward action on it.

Giants manager Bob Melvin confirmed that Carson Whisenhunt will be added to the 40-man roster on July 28. On that day, he’s scheduled to make his MLB debut against the Pirates.

Analysis

When Bob Melvin confirmed the move, he mentioned that Whisenhunt is needed, given the lack of depth in the Giants’ rotation right now.

Hayden Birdsong was demoted to Triple-A after a bad nine-game stretch, one that saw him walk 27 and surrender 29 earned runs over 37.1 IP. Additionally, starter Landen Roupp went on the injured list on July 25, further depleting their rotation.

Whisenhunt needed to be given a look with the Giants, as this was his second go-around with the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Now, the team will get a chance to see if he can stick with the team’s current push to make it back into the postseason.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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