After missing nearly three months, it looks like Madison Bumgarner is finally ready to make his fifth big league start of the season. The Giants’ ace is scheduled to return to the hill in San Diego on Saturday after making four rehab starts at three different levels.
While Bumgarner was attracting sellout crowds to mixed results, prospects were trying to make an impression with the front office in attendance. Here is who stood out among Giants minor leaguers in each of Bumgarner’s rehab starts.
June 25, Arizona Rookie League Giants
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— Well, it can only go up from here. The AZL Giants were without top picks Heliot Ramos and Jacob Gonzalez, who are hitting a combined .441 (30-for-68), and only managed three hits in Bumgarner’s first return to the mound.
— Aside from Bumgarner, the biggest news was the return of Steven Duggar. In his first game of the season, the Giants’ sixth-round pick from 2015 went 0-for-2.
June 30, Sacramento River Cats
— Orlando Calixte jumped at the opportunity with big names in San Francisco’s brass watching. Leading off and playing third base, Calixte went 3-for-5 with a home run in the first inning, a double, two RBI and one run scored. The 25-year-old has now played every position aside from catcher and first base this year and has 10 home runs.
San Francisco Giants
— Chris Shaw didn’t go deep, but he did finish the game 2-for-5 at the plate, one day after smacking two balls over the wall. This was the third game of an eight-game hitting streak and he’s continued to do all the Giants have hoped for and more this season.
— At 33 years old, Juan Ciriaco isn’t a name you will hear a lot. He’s one of the veterans still plugging away in the minors, but he did enjoy a 3-for-4 day with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored with Bumgarner on the bump.
July 5, San Jose Giants
— Ryan Howard, who I recently wrote about as a potential next Matt Duffy for the Giants, looked just like that while Bumgarner was shelled in San Jose. Howard roped a RBI double in his first at-bat and finished 2-for-3 in the loss. The shortstop who is known more for his bat, later displayed some impressive glove work in Bumgarner’s final rehab start with San Jose too.
— San Jose only scored one run on six hits. Aside from Howard, Gio Brusa, a local product from the University of the Pacific, was the only other hitter to have a multi-hit night. Brusa went 2-for-4 with a double of his own and scored one run.
July 10, San Jose Giants
— Bumgarner’s final rehab start went much better for himself and for the Giants’ Advanced Single-A affiliate, despite a 4-2 loss. At the top of the order and playing center field, Ronnie Jebavy drove in a run in a nice 2-for-4 night. The speedy outfielder was hampered by injuries early, but is now rounding into form and is slashing .285/.318/.390 in 29 games.
— Jalen Miller, the Giants’ third-round pick in 2015, is having a rough year in San Jose. The middle infielder is only hitting .219, but enjoyed one of his best games in front of a sold out crowd. Miller hit his sixth home run of the season, going deep in back-to-back games, and ended with 2-for-4 showing.