PEORIA, Ariz. — On the eve of his first appearance in the Tony Vitello Era, pitcher Hayden Birdsong shared his optimism about improvements made during the offseason. Birdsong dedicated the winter months to refining his mechanics in Scottsdale, aiming to maintain better control during games. His focus on adjustments generated hope for greater consistency throughout the spring season.
Discussing his outlook ahead of the game, Birdsong stated,
“We’ll see what happens when I get in the game, hopefully I don’t lose everything, but I don’t think I will.”
Spring Debut Mirrors Last Season’s Early Struggles
During Saturday’s opening Cactus League game, Birdsong’s performance recalled his earlier difficulties from the prior MLB season. Starting for the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, he struggled to find his rhythm, managing to record just one out before exiting. Opposing batters took advantage early, with two singles and two walks placing runners on base. The Seattle Mariners capitalized with a grand slam, establishing a 5-0 lead that set the tone for the contest.
Despite the tough outing, Birdsong took encouragement from his fastball velocity and command. He reached speeds near 98 mph on his four-seamer, which was largely thrown for strikes.
“That’s my main goal, to fill it up with the heater,”
Birdsong explained.
“That’s one win in there, my fastball was in the zone. I’m not upset, but I’m not happy.”
He completed 11 of 16 fastballs for strikes, demonstrating clear potential in his primary pitch.
However, Birdsong’s cutter, a pitch he had previously contemplated abandoning, remained a challenge. The coaching staff urged him to continue developing it, as having a tough glove-side pitch adds valuable variety. Birdsong acknowledged the cutter’s inconsistency during bullpen sessions but expressed willingness to persevere with it.
Manager Tony Vitello Maintains Confidence Despite Results
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello remained upbeat about Birdsong’s progress, emphasizing the quality of his pitches rather than early scoreline setbacks. Regarding Birdsong’s performance, Vitello said,
“the ball was jumping out of (Birdsong’s) hand.”
After the Giants rallied for a 10-5 victory, Vitello added,
“I thought he was fine. You’d like to subtract the walk from everything – someone across the table from me would say, ‘What about the ball that was driven to right field?’ But a couple different steps (from) an infielder or a ball just kind of hit a different way, you’d like to think his results were better. But he was throwing the ball well.”
While spring training lineups serve many experimental purposes and most key players were rested, the decision to start Birdsong underscored the Giants’ need for emerging pitchers to assert themselves. Birdsong’s flexibility to contribute as a starter or reliever has made him a valuable candidate to fill rotation or bullpen roles.
Birdsong’s Performance History Highlights Flashes of Potential
During the 2023 season, Birdsong flashed impressive moments, including dominant starts striking out 12 batters at Coors Field and 11 in another outing. Although Landen Roupp secured the final rotation spot last spring, pushing Birdsong into a bullpen role, the right-hander proved to be an effective reliever at times, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.
Still, recurring command issues upon returning to the rotation cloud his long-term role on the team. The Giants’ coaching staff frequently discusses Birdsong during meetings and even brought him up in interviews for pitching coach candidates, reflecting their serious consideration of his potential.
Birdsong’s future remains uncertain—he has demonstrated the capability to develop into a No. 2 starter behind Logan Webb or take on closer responsibilities. Alternatively, he may spend a significant portion of the season in Triple-A refining his consistency and control to better secure a major league spot.
Adjustments and Development Influencing Birdsong’s Trajectory
Vitello observed Birdsong’s performance carefully, noting encouraging signs from his strong May start against the Kansas City Royals, when Birdsong maintained a 1.91 ERA. Yet by July, he posted a 4.80 ERA before being sent back to Sacramento and not making a return to Oracle Park during the playoff push.
Regarding Birdsong’s fluctuations, Vitello remarked,
“That’s to be expected for a younger guy. You’re trying to find your personality in the big league uniform. I think his personality in college and then in the minor leagues was, you know, he’s always had success. But at some point you get punched in the mouth, and you’ve got to find that consistent image.”
Vitello also noted Birdsong and teammate Bryce Eldridge hail from regions with challenging baseball climates, which limited their pitching repetitions in youth. “He’s still a pup,” the manager added, emphasizing Birdsong’s youth and room for growth.
After moving to Scottsdale post-2025 season, Birdsong identified one mechanical flaw he had corrected—the tendency to bend sideways too far while pitching, which disrupted his consistency. This spring, he focused on maintaining a more upright posture to stabilize his deliveries.
He explained,
“I was just getting a very inconsistent hand position. That could have been it. You never know.”
Acknowledging Challenges While Remaining Determined
Despite struggles in his spring appearances, Birdsong remains motivated by the bigger picture and understands patience is key for progress.
“I’m obviously trying to win a job,”
he said.
“So I want to throw all my pitches and punch people out and not walk people. But at the same time, I’m working towards the end goal of things.”
He added,
“Making the team is awesome—it would be great—but I also know that if I don’t make the team, I have more time to work on my stuff and get stuff to where it’s perfect, so whenever I come back up or if I start up (in the big leagues), I can have it ready.”
Implications for the Giants’ Pitching Staff This Season
Hayden Birdsong’s spring training performances reflect a mixture of promise and uncertainty, typical for a young pitcher adjusting to the major leagues. The Giants are counting on him and other young arms to clarify roles and contribute meaningfully this season, whether in the starting rotation or bullpen.
Coaching staff insight and offseason mechanical adjustments bolster Birdsong’s chances of improving control and maximizing his formidable fastball. While his early outings have been rough, the focus on development and resiliency suggests he remains a key piece in the Giants’ plans moving forward.
As spring progresses, monitoring Birdsong’s evolution will be critical to assessing his impact on the pitching staff and his trajectory as a potential long-term contributor for San Francisco.
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