Giants’ Landen Roupp not taking spot for granted after back-to-back huge springs

SCOTTSDALE — Two years ago at this time, Landen Roupp was beginning a surprising push for a job in the Opening Day bullpen. A year ago, another huge spring put him in the Giants’ rotation over fellow young starters Hayden Birdsong and Kyle Harrison.This spring, there should be no drama for the 27-year-old right-hander.The only real question about his status is which specific spot he’ll take in the rotation after the offseason additions of Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle, but that’s not how Roupp is viewing it.“I’m still going to be fighting. In my mind, I’m still fighting for a spot,” Roupp said. “I’ve got to come out and have a good spring.”Manager Tony Vitello wants a competitive camp in all facets. Asked about his Opening Day starter this week, he said it will “more than likely” be Logan Webb before adding that he wants to keep a competitive vibe in that department, too. It’s just his nature, Vitello said.But when it comes to Roupp, all the Giants really need to see this spring is health. And the updates in that department are very positive for a pitcher who dealt with right elbow inflammation and a left knee sprain last season. Roupp had quick recoveries from both, even throwing a bullpen at the end of the season that showed his knee was fully healed.“I was 100 percent. I could have pitched (if they needed me),” he said this week. “I definitely felt 100 percent and had a normal offseason.”Roupp picked up a ball again in early November, preparing for a third season in which he could be a very important piece for new manager Tony Vitello, who used to watch Roupp from the opposing dugout in college. The Giants took a more modest approach to rotation additions, avoiding the high end of the market, but Roupp stands out as one of several young pitchers with lots of room to grow.Through 45 big league appearances, Roupp has a 3.73 ERA. But for a stretch last season, just before the first injury, he was the most dominant pitcher on staff. Over three months before the elbow flared up, he had a 2.27 ERA in 14 starts, with one third of his runs coming in one start at Dodger Stadium.“I think when you label what a starting pitcher is, or who someone needs to be as a starting pitcher, it’s consistency, and I think he’s built for that,” Vitello said. “It’s just personality, character, his work ethic, how he goes about it, you really could bring it down to his delivery and his stuff. I think his consistency is what led to the success you’re talking about.“And it was big for the club last year. And I think it’s something that, you know, everybody’s wanting the high-end guy that’s electric and this and that. But in order to have a complete team, you can’t have somebody that’s not, you know, as consistent and reliable as he is.”Roupp said he learned a lot last year about how to bounce back and “completely wipe away” bad outings. Even if he doesn’t view it this way, he arrived this spring in a more comfortable spot, and there are subtle signs of where he now stands. Roupp’s catch partner in early workouts is Webb.Roupp said his goal this season is to be even more consistent. That effort might be helped by an improved cutter, taught to him recently by new assistant pitching coach Christian Wonders.“It’s just a whole lot better,” he said. “He showed me a grip and just instantly, it was 10 times better.”New Home For HarrisonHarrison isn’t far from his old teammates after a trade that sent him from the Boston Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers. The left-hander had been buried on the rotation depth chart after being the centerpiece of the Rafael Devers deal, but he should get a much better opportunity with the Brewers, who train in nearby Maryvale. At a media event Thursday, Brewers GM Matt Arnold said Harrison will be developed as a starter.“We’re really happy to have him,” Arnold said. The Brewers are known within the industry for their ability to develop pitchers, and they’re always on the lookout for young starters since they tend to trade their best ones as they approach free agency. A few weeks before acquiring Harrison, they sent ace Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. One To WatchAt the annual spring training media day, Giants general manager Zack Minasian said fast-rising prospect Parks Harber is likely to start the 2026 season in Double-A. Minasian noted it would make sense for the 24-year-old after he posted a 1.097 OPS and hit seven homers in 25 games with High-A Eugene last season, earning a non-roster invite to big league camp. Harber was picked up in the Camilo Doval trade, and while most of the attention that week was paid to others, the Giants felt they got a steal in the corner infielder. After a strong finish to his season, Harber dominated the Arizona Fall League, which got him on the radar for others within the industry. MLB Pipeline recently listed him 10th on their list of the best third base prospects in the minors. Of course, third base is blocked at Oracle Park for years to come. First base is, too, so the Giants put Harber in the outfield in the Fall League and the plan is for him to get lots of corner outfield reps this spring. Minasian said vice president of player development Randy Winn, a former big league outfielder, liked what he saw from Harber on the grass. “Randy said it looked pretty good,” Minasian said. “It’s obviously a very small sample, but we certainly didn’t get Randy walking away saying, ‘No, I don’t think this is gonna work.’ We’ll get a better look at it this spring and go from there.”Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Giants’ Landen Roupp not taking spot for granted after back-to-back huge springs

Trending News