Giants Pitching Coach Justin Mecage Looks to Youth
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Justin Mecage caught up with many former colleagues on Sunday when the Giants faced off against the Brewers. Having served as the Triple-A pitching coach last year, he brings experience from his previous role in Pittsburgh, where he worked closely with Paul Skeens.
Mecage clearly knows a thing or two about developing young pitchers. It’s probably not a coincidence that the Giants are banking heavily on their younger arms this season.
“I’m more excited about this group now than when I first came in,” the new pitching coach remarked. “I think all of them have high potential.”
He mentioned players like Hayden Birdsong, Landon Loup, Carson Seymour, Carson Whisenhunt, and Trevor McDonald as part of this promising group.
Last season was supposed to place a heavier workload on the pitchers, yet only Loup managed to tally 100 innings pitched. Overall, the team ended with a modest bWAR of 0.1, missing the postseason, and only three reliable starters.
“We did some things that helped elevate their performance,” Mecage noted, pointing to Whisenhunt as an example. His fastball hit 97 mph this spring, and his pitch mix improved significantly. “Everyone’s unique. Some find their groove, while others refine what they already do. When you improve, it boosts your confidence, and you just feel good out there.”
However, the spring hasn’t yielded much for Whisenhunt and Seymour. Loup and McDonald, on the other hand, seem ready to clinch spots as the No. 5 starter and a bullpen option, respectively. Bad news for Birdsong, though—an MRI revealed structural damage to his elbow, making his return unlikely.
Recent signings of veteran free agents Tyler Marr and Adrian Houser have sparked some optimism, although both have had their challenges.
Mahle has previously started 30 games but has been limited to only 125 innings across the last three seasons due to elbow issues. He hasn’t yet started 30 games in a season, which is a concern. Still, optimism remains.
In his final outing, Hauser gave up a two-run homer but pitched well otherwise, throwing five solid innings. His velocity appears to be consistently hovering between 94 and 96 mph, showing some improvement.
Mecage expressed that he’s noticed Hauser’s progress. “He’s better now than I’ve ever seen him,” Mecage said, complementing Mahle’s consistent performance thus far this spring.
Mecage indicated that Mahle has “made some small tweaks” that should pay off. As for Hauser, there’s an opportunity to capitalize on his current form.
The addition of Loup could help solidify a five-man rotation alongside Logan Webb and Robbie Rae. While Webb is set to pitch on Opening Day, Ray demonstrated impressive focus in his last start, going nine innings without allowing a hit.
It’s often overlooked that Webb, slated to start on Opening Day, isn’t a rotational Cy Young Award winner, but that might change. “His slider feels like it’s back to 2021 levels,” Mecage observed, acknowledging the improvements made in recent outings.
With spots still available in the bullpen, the Giants are working to replace Tyler Rodgers and Camilo Doval, both of whom were traded, as well as Randy Rodriguez, who is healing from elbow surgery.
Vitello hasn’t named a closer yet, but Mecage envisions having at least one dedicated pitcher for the ninth inning. He might see Ryan Walker and Eric Miller sharing the responsibilities based on matchups, possibly with Jose Butt as a secondary option.
Joey Lucchesi recently joined the team, while Matt Gage looks poised to be the second lefty in the bullpen, making it beneficial to have three southpaws overall.
Butt’s absence is a concern, particularly with Doval and Rodriguez out. Last season, the bullpen lacked competition, with no pitchers consistently striking out batters each inning. Miller has potential but has faced health setbacks.
“You always want to generate more swing-and-miss situations,” Mecage said. “When making decisions, it’s all about the pitch shape and structure. Who can we afford to make mistakes with?”
Mecage plans to apply lessons from his time in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee to his new role in San Francisco. His assistant, Christian Wonders, hails from the Rays and is known for his talent in pitcher development, bringing a data-driven approach.
Mecage commended the Pirates’ and Brewers’ track records in developing starting pitchers, claiming the Brewers combined “art and science” effectively. “Our goal is to bridge the gap,” he stated, emphasizing a flexible approach to meeting each player’s needs, whether they want to delve into biomechanics or focus on mindset.
