Giants activate veteran reliever, option promising rookie pitcher

The SF Giants activated right-handed reliever John Brebbia from the injured list on Tuesday before a game against the Chicago Cubs. In a pair of expected corresponding moves, the Giants optioned rookie Tristan Beck to Triple-A Sacramento and released outfielder AJ Pollock. It had been reported last night that the Giants were going to release Pollock, which all but ensured that Brebbia would be reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

Brebbia has been out since he suffered a back injury in June. Prior to going down, Brebbia was manager Gabe Kapler's go-to Opener in bullpen games. On the season, Brebbia has a 3.14 ERA (2.72 FIP) with 36 strikeouts and ten walks in 28.2 innings pitched (29 appearances). Brebbia has made eight starts, allowing just one run in nine innings pitched during those outings. Brebbia has made three rehab appearances in the minors, striking out five across three shutout innings.

The Giants acquired Pollock from the Seattle Mariners alongside infielder Mark Mathias in the team's lone trade at the deadline. Mathias is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning no one acquired at the deadline will play for the Giants in September.

Pollock was hopeful he could bounce back from a rough season in San Francisco, but hitting the injured list just as young outfielder Heliot Ramos (Giants Top 30 Prospect) caught fire likely led the Giants to decide not to give Pollock a more prolonged opportunity. He only appeared in five games with the Giants, but on the season, he is hitting .165/.215/.308 with five home runs in 144 plate appearances.

Beck has been one of San Francisco's most consistent rookies this season and was a top-16 prospect in the organization before he exhausted his rookie eligibility. Beck has a 4.04 ERA in 75.2 innings pitched (31 games) with 62 strikeouts and 30 walks in the majors this season and a 3.79 ERA across 19 innings (six appearances) at Triple-A.

The Giants recently moved Beck into the starting rotation, and he made one impressive start before he was hit hard by the Padres. Just three days after his rough outing in San Diego, Kapler used Beck on short rest in Monday's 5-0 loss, and he allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings pitched. 

The team has been hesitant to give Beck a long leash despite success as a long reliever. Once again, the SF Giants have remained unwilling to bet that a solid pitcher can sustain success as a starter.