Nearly five years after throwing his last big-league pitch, Scott Kazmir will start Saturday’s game at Oracle Park, and he’ll be pitching against the last team he pitched for.
After taking two years off from the game and playing in independent ball last year, Kazmir, 37, was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to face the Dodgers.
“I think it's a fantastic story,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “It's a story of perseverance and resilience.
“I remember watching his first bullpen in Scottsdale, and it just didn't look too much different from from what we saw back in ‘16, it's a testament to his drive and his determination and his willingness to go through some some difficult stretches. It's not easy to be an established major-league pitcher with a long career and a lot of service time and make a ton of money and then go back and pitch in independent ball to try to get another shot because you believe in yourself and and you think you can get outs at the major league level. To see it all come together for him is quite the story.”
Kapler, who played with Kazmir in Tampa Bay, said he delivered the news that Kazmir would be making the start by phone “and I think I could actually kind of tell that he was smiling. It's been a long journey for him, and he’s really kind of proud. Obviously, he and I were teammates a long time ago, and I know that the journey hasn't been the easiest one for him.”
Kazmir was a three-time All-Star with the Rays, but this isn’t the first career comeback for Kazmir, whose first came with the Indians and then A’s in 2013-2014 after pitching in independent ball in 2012.
Kazmir had a 2.84 ERA in two outings, including one start, at Sacramento, and Kapler said he’s been up to 55-60 pitches. Extrapolating, that means he could go 75-80 pitches Saturday, with another non-roster spring invitee, Nick Tropeano, called up Friday, available for a long stint out of the bullpen if necessary.
The Giants needed a fill-in starter because Logan Webb is on the IL with a shoulder strain and will miss at least one outing. To get Kazmir on the roster, outfielder Braden Bishop, acquired on waivers earlier in the week, was designated for assignment; Bishop is from San Carlos and the brother of Giants prospect Hunter Bishop. In addition, the Giants optioned out reliever Sam Selman.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser
"later" - Google News
May 23, 2021 at 03:36AM
https://ift.tt/2Sde0eB
Nearly five years later, Scott Kazmir makes MLB return with Giants - San Francisco Chronicle
"later" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KR2wq4
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Nearly five years later, Scott Kazmir makes MLB return with Giants - San Francisco Chronicle"
Post a Comment