SF Giants observations: Tidwell continues impressing, Birdsong struggles again

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — New Giants manager Tony Vitello still remembers Blade Tidwell’s “Welcome to the SEC” moment. Tidwell does, too.

It was April 4, 2021, and Tidwell was making his seventh collegiate start for Tennessee under Vitello. Tidwell, a true freshman, had pitched well for the Volunteers up to that point. The Crimson Tide hit Tidwell with a reality check.

Tidwell allowed a homer to the first batter he faced, then surrendered a two-run double before the end of the first inning. Alabama’s offense didn’t let off the gas. Tidwell allowed another homer, and his final line wasn’t pretty —  5 1/3 innings, five runs (four earned), five strikeouts. But Vitello came away impressed by Tidwell’s resilience.

“He didn’t lose that bulldog presence and he kept attacking the zone,” Vitello said before the Giants’ 11-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. “They kept hitting him a little bit, but he kind of limited the damage. If we were watching an NFL game, it was like the ‘bend don’t break’ situation. … The way he talked about it, it was more mature than a normal freshman.”

Five years later, Tidwell is again playing under Vitello. After making his major-league debut last season with the New York Mets, Tidwell is competing for a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster as a reliever. With another encouraging outing under his belt, the 24-year-old right-hander is making a compelling case for a roster spot.

Tidwell got the start Thursday over right-hander Hayden Birdsong after pitching a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in his spring debut last Saturday. The right-hander allowing two runs over two innings against the Rockies, but he struck out two and generated nine whiffs, six of those with his sweeper.

“I think if you’re looking for a highlight, there were some high-end pitches in there,” Vitello said.

Tidwell, drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft, made four appearances with the team last season. In July, the Mets traded him and outfielder Drew Gilbert, his teammate at Tennessee, for submariner Tyler Rogers.

Tidwell recalled watching Gilbert walk into Mets Triple-A manager Dick Scott’s office on the day of the trade. The former Vols embraced after Gilbert told Tidwell the news, but shortly after, Tidwell was also called into the office along with Gilbert. Scott then broke the news that they were going to San Francisco together.

Tidwell looked sharp upon joining Triple-A Sacramento, allowing three earned runs over 18 innings (1.50 ERA) with 24 strikeouts, but sustained a shoulder injury that kept him from making his Giants debut. During the offseason, Tidwell did three days of physical therapy per week up until he left for spring training and now feels full go.

While Tidwell strengthened his case for the Opening Day roster, Birdsong looks more on track to begin the season with Triple-A Sacramento.

The 24-year-old Birdsong only pitched one inning, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk. Birdsong allowed a solo homer to Chad Stevens, the first batter he faced, on a slider that caught too much zone, setting the table for another forgetful outing. Vitello said there would have been an opportunity for Birdsong to pitch a second inning had he been more efficient.

With Tidwell and right-hander Trevor McDonald each making strong early impressions, Birdsong will have to quickly course-correct to have any shot at making the team out of camp.

“I just don’t think he came away throwing the ball as well as he can,” Vitello said. “He’s certainly got good stuff — that’s kind of been beat up ad nauseam — but I think as far as watching body language, presence, how he threw the ball, I think he’s capable of better.”

Worth noting

• Third baseman Matt Chapman hit his first home run of Cactus League play, a 108.4-mph, 460-foot solo shot that cleared the center-field fence.
• Left-hander Erik Miller has yet to appear in a Cactus League game, and Vitello said the next time he faces hitters will likely be in a live bullpen setting.
• Right-hander Tyler Mahle will make his first appearance of Cactus League play on Saturday against the Athletics.