Former top prospect Caleb Kilian pushing for bullpen role in second Giants stint

SCOTTSDALE — A few days after hitting 99 mph in his first Cactus League game, Giants pitcher Caleb Kilian stood at his locker and smiled.“I woke up feeling good that day,” Kilian said. Apparently, that has been the case all spring. Kilian has seen his stock rise as much as anyone over the past three weeks, showing the kind of velocity that this bullpen group is mostly lacking. Last week, manager Tony Vitello mentioned Kilian and fellow right-hander Gregory Santos (who throws a bit harder, regularly touching triple-digits) as non-roster invitees who had put themselves in the conversation.Both are former Giants who have returned. In Kilian’s case, he is back five years after he was sent to the Chicago Cubs along with outfield prospect Alexander Canario in a blockbuster that brought Kris Bryant to San Francisco and helped a 107-win team narrowly win the NL West. A former eighth-round pick, Kilian had dominated at Double-A Richmond, making him a key part of that deal. “It’s not something I was expecting at the time,” Kilian said. “It was kind of a whirlwind and a little overwhelming at the time. But it helped me in my career.”Kilian made his debut with the Cubs a year later and briefly appeared in the big leagues each of the next two seasons. The numbers weren’t there — 28 earned runs and 20 walks in 27 1/3 innings — and he also dealt with some poor injury luck. A right shoulder strain sidelined Kilian for half of the 2024 season. In 2025, it was a lat strain, and he pitched just 15 2/3 innings in the minors. When Kilian hit free agency, he met with teams over Zoom. The Giants were the last team he talked with, and he didn’t need to learn much. He was part of the same draft class as Grant McCray, Tyler Fitzgerald and Trevor McDonald and has played with many of the current members of the clubhouse in the minors. He also had some familiarity with director of major league coaching Frank Anderson, who worked with two of his coaches.“The staff was the number one reason I returned,” Kilian said. “I just believe in them. I love all the new guys who came in.” The Giants have a reputation for keeping pitchers healthy, and for Kilian, that’s the key. He appeared in just 27 games the past two seasons across all levels. So far, it’s been smooth sailing. And Kilian has looked like a different guy than the one who struggled with the Cubs.That early 99 mph fastball wasn’t a mirage. Kilian hit 99.2 mph last Friday and has shown a firm fastball in every spring appearance. In 5 1/3 innings, he has allowed just one run, with five strikeouts to one walk. “I think the goal is to stay in the bullpen and just let it rip in there,” Kilian said of the increased velo. Kilian was traded at a time when the Giants had a historically good bullpen. He returned to an organization that doesn’t have many clear answers in the late innings and needs several pitchers to break through this spring.On Friday, Kilian gave up his first run of the spring, but the rally included two infield singles. Vitello pushed Kilian to a second inning, which surprised the right-hander. The staff wanted to see how his stuff would react to the extra work, a sign of how seriously they are taking Kilian as a candidate for the Opening Day roster. Vitello said he liked the way it looked, and he continues to be impressed by the 28-year-old’s demeanor on the mound. “He has always got a good heart rate,” Vitello said. “I think he has a good feel for what’s going on when he’s out there.A Breakthrough Lefty? The new staff is getting a long look at a lefty who impressed two springs ago, and this time around, he could be needed early in the season. Juan Sanchez had a strong 2024 spring as a non-roster invitee and started the year in Triple-A, but he needed Tommy John surgery and ended up missing all of 2025.Sanchez returned this spring as a non-roster invitee, and again, he is pitching well. With a scoreless inning Monday, he is up to five shutout appearances out of the bullpen this spring. The timing couldn’t be better for the 25-year-old, who looks back to his old form.Erik Miller (back tightness) is close to returning to game action, but Reiver Sanmartin (hip strain) will miss three months. The Giants brought Joey Lucchesi back on Tuesday but Sam Hentges (shoulder rehab) is likely to miss Opening Day. They are short on left-handed relief options at the moment, and nobody who qualifies has thrown better this spring than Sanchez. Vitello said recently that he’s a “big Sanch guy.”“He’s competing, he works really hard, he’s a great listener,” Vitello said. “I just think he’s got all the things you want out of a guy intangible-wise. He just needs to be as good as he can be physically, because when he’s at his best it’s pretty good. The deception piece is there and the stuff is good enough.“He’s still young and feeling out his repertoire a little bit out there. With any player you want to limit mistakes, and I think as he gets older and limits reps he’ll continue to limit mistakes.”Trainer’s RoomRafael Devers returned to the lineup on Monday after missing time with a tight hamstring. The bullpen is a bit banged up, but the Giants have had a very healthy winter and spring on the position player side. Drew Gilbert (shoulder impingement) is the only one still dealing with an injury, but he has been cleared to begin a throwing program and is in Tuesday’s lineup as the DH.Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Former top prospect Caleb Kilian pushing for bullpen role in second Giants stint

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