Hayden Birdsong Bio
Hayden Birdsong (born August 30, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 215 pounds, he bats and throws right-handed and has developed into one of the more intriguing young arms in the Giants organization. Birdsong played college baseball for the Eastern Illinois Panthers before being selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, and he made his major league debut in 2024. As of the 2025 season, he continues to develop within the Giants’ pitching staff while transitioning between starting and relief roles.
Early Life and Background
Hayden Birdsong grew up in Mattoon, Illinois, where he attended Mattoon High School and played baseball. As a junior in 2019, he helped Mattoon win the Apollo Conference Championship and was named to the All-Apollo Conference First Team. His parents, Stacey and Paula, supported his early athletic development, and his sister, Hayley, has also been part of his supportive family circle. Birdsong’s size and arm strength were noticeable traits during his high school years, setting the foundation for his future on the mound.
After high school, Birdsong played one season at Lake Land College in 2020. In 15 innings over four games, including three starts, he posted a 7.20 ERA but still struck out 20 batters before the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following that abbreviated campaign, he transferred to Eastern Illinois University to continue his college career with the Panthers.
Path to Baseball
Birdsong’s transition to Eastern Illinois gave him the opportunity to refine his skills at the Division I level. In 2021, he posted a 9.76 ERA in 27⅔ innings, a season that reflected his ongoing adjustment to higher-level competition. That summer, he played for the Danville Dans in the Prospect League, recording a 4.93 ERA in 18 appearances and gaining valuable experience against advanced amateur hitters.
His breakthrough came in 2022, when he showed significant improvement as a pitcher. Working primarily out of the bullpen, he led Eastern Illinois with a 3.35 ERA over 45⅔ innings, finishing with a 5–4 record and 66 strikeouts. He earned First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) honors and led the conference with a 1.40 ERA in OVC games. Following his collegiate season, he pitched for the Lakeshore Chinooks in the Northwoods League, where he compiled a 2–0 record, one save, a 4.15 ERA, and 31 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings over six appearances, cementing his status as a draft prospect.
Hayden Birdsong Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
The San Francisco Giants selected Birdsong in the sixth round, with the 196th overall pick, of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed for an under-slot bonus of $187,500 and began his professional career that summer. In his first season, he pitched for the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants and the Single-A San Jose Giants, striking out 23 batters in 11⅔ innings while adjusting to professional hitters.
In 2023, Birdsong pitched across three minor league levels: Low-A San Jose, High-A Eugene, and Double-A Richmond. He combined for a 2–5 record, a 3.31 ERA, and 149 strikeouts in 100⅔ innings. His 3.31 ERA was the best among Giants minor leaguers with at least 100 innings pitched. On July 4, while pitching for Eugene, he threw five no-hit innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts as part of a combined no-hitter against the Tri-City Dust Devils, a memorable performance that highlighted his strikeout potential.
MLB Breakthrough (2024)
Birdsong began the 2024 season with Double-A Richmond and was promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats after logging a 2.05 ERA with 61 strikeouts across 11 starts. On June 26, the Giants selected him to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. That same day, he made his MLB debut at Oracle Park against the Chicago Cubs, starting the game and allowing three runs in 4⅔ innings in front of family members who attended in person.
He made 16 starts for the Giants during his rookie campaign, finishing with a 5–6 record and a 4.75 ERA, along with 88 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. The experience gave him a full introduction to major league lineups and provided a foundation for his development heading into the following year.
San Francisco Giants Era (2024–Present)
Birdsong opened the 2025 season working out of the Giants’ bullpen, posting a 2.31 ERA in his first 11 relief appearances. On May 20, he made his first start of the season against the Kansas City Royals, pitching five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out four, and earning the win in a 3–2 Giants victory. The performance demonstrated his ability to transition effectively between roles.
As a starter, he struggled at times, recording a 6.17 ERA with 27 walks in 42⅓ innings across 10 starts. On July 22, 2025, the Giants optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento. On March 19, 2026, the team announced that Birdsong would miss the entirety of the season due to Tommy John surgery, the result of an elbow issue that lingered during spring training. Through the 2025 season, his MLB totals include a 9–10 win–loss record, a 4.77 ERA, and 156 strikeouts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Birdsong is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-handed pitcher who throws four different pitches. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-90s, typically 93–97 mph and has been clocked as high as 99 mph, featuring riding and running action. His main off-speed offering is a curveball in the upper-70s to low-80s with significant depth, considered his best bat-missing pitch, and he complements it with a mid-80s slider and a changeup. While initially developed as a starter by the Giants, he has also proven capable in a relief role.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Birdsong’s signature early moments came on July 4, 2023, when he delivered five no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts as part of a combined no-hitter for High-A Eugene. His MLB debut on June 26, 2024, against the Chicago Cubs marked the realization of a lifelong goal, attended by his parents, Stacey and Paula, and his sister, Hayley. His first win of 2025 against the Royals on May 20 further cemented his role as a versatile arm in the Giants’ pitching plans.
Hayden Birdsong Career Wins
Through the 2025 MLB season, Hayden Birdsong has compiled a 9–10 win–loss record, a 4.77 ERA, and 156 strikeouts in his major league career with the San Francisco Giants. His first major league win came during his 2024 rookie season, while his 2025 campaign featured a notable victory against the Kansas City Royals in his first start of the year.
MLB Highlights
Birdsong made 16 starts for the Giants in 2024, finishing with five wins, six losses, a 4.75 ERA, and 88 strikeouts in 72 innings. In 2025, he added further wins in both relief and starting capacities, including a five-inning scoreless outing against the Royals. His versatility between the bullpen and rotation has been a defining feature of his early MLB career.
Other Wins and Performances
At the minor league level, Birdsong posted a 2–5 record with a 3.31 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 100⅔ innings across three levels in 2023. In the college ranks, he finished his Eastern Illinois career with a 5–4 record, a 3.35 ERA, and 66 strikeouts in 45⅔ innings in 2022, earning First Team All-OVC honors.
Hayden Birdsong Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Hayden Birdsong comes from a close-knit family rooted in Mattoon, Illinois. His parents, Stacey (father) and Paula (mother), have been central figures in his development as a player, attending his major league debut in person. His sister, Hayley, has also supported his journey and was present for the milestone moment in 2024.
Personal Life
Birdsong maintains a strong connection to his family and his hometown community in Illinois. He is active on social media, where fans can follow his career and updates. His focus during the early years of his professional life has centered on his development as a pitcher and his contributions to the San Francisco Giants organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began promisingly for Hayden Birdsong, who opened the year in the Giants’ bullpen and posted a 2.31 ERA in his first 11 relief appearances. His transition back to starting on May 20 produced one of his most impressive outings, as he pitched five scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals to earn the win. The early portion of the season highlighted his swingman potential and his ability to handle multiple roles within a major league staff.
As the season progressed, however, Birdsong encountered challenges in the starting rotation, finishing with a 6.17 ERA and 27 walks in 42⅓ innings across 10 starts. On July 22, 2025, the Giants optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento as part of a broader effort to refine his approach. Despite the late-season adjustment, his overall body of work in 2025 reinforced his value as a depth option for the Giants.
Looking ahead, Birdsong’s long-term outlook was significantly altered on March 19, 2026, when the team announced he would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2026 season. The procedure addresses an elbow issue that had lingered through spring training. The Giants and Birdsong will now focus on a structured rehabilitation process as he works toward a full return to the mound.
