SAN FRANCISCO -- Lou Trivino completed his long road back to the big leagues on Tuesday, when he was selected to the Giants¡¯ Major League roster after winning a spot in the club¡¯s Opening Day bullpen.
Trivino, 33, hasn¡¯t pitched in the Majors since 2022 due to a series of arm injuries, but he came into camp as a non-roster invitee and showed he was back to full health by striking out 10 over 9 1/3 scoreless innings in nine exhibition appearances this spring.
Trivino, who previously pitched for manager Bob Melvin during his tenure with the A¡¯s from 2018-21, said he never doubted that he would get back to the big leagues, though he was happy to see that goal finally come to fruition with the Giants.
¡°When it actually happens, it¡¯s pretty special,¡± Trivino said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. You take a lot of things in this game for granted, especially when you¡¯re going in the thick of it, but to reflect [on] the last two years and really not be on a big field again, it¡¯s special. I¡¯m very grateful.¡±
Trivino logged a 1.66 ERA over 25 relief appearances for the Yankees in 2022, but he missed the entire 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander appeared in 11 Minor League games for New York last season, but his comeback hit a snag after he dealt with more elbow and shoulder issues, which prompted the Yankees to decline his $5 million club option in November.
Still, Trivino ultimately made the most of his new opportunity with the Giants, emerging from a crowded field of talented arms to earn a coveted spot on the 26-man roster this spring.
¡°He came in with an opportunity to make the team, and he made it,¡± Melvin said. ¡°Nothing was given to him. We had to send some guys down here recently that were part of this team last year. He had to come in and earn it. I think that¡¯s what he feels best about. He¡¯s coming in here and pitching well and having basically a clean spring. He¡¯s a guy that¡¯s got a track record. It¡¯s been a little while since he¡¯s pitched, but he was focused and earned the spot on the team.¡±
To clear a spot for Trivino on the 40-man roster, the Giants designated infielder David Villar for assignment. A 2018 11th-round Draft pick, Villar was named the 2022 Pacific Coast League MVP after posting a 1.021 OPS with 27 home runs over 84 games with Triple-A Sacramento, but he was out of options this spring and didn¡¯t have a clear path to playing time since he was blocked from both corner infield spots with the Giants.
¡°The last couple of years haven¡¯t gone the way his trajectory looked like it was going at one point in time,¡± Melvin said. ¡°I hope he gets a big league job. I hope the change of scenery is good for him because there¡¯s still a talent level. There¡¯s a tremendous amount of power. He can play first and third. Sometimes you get bogged down a little bit in an organization, and it doesn¡¯t feel like there¡¯s an avenue. Hopefully it¡¯s better for him.¡±
With Trivino officially in the mix, the Giants¡¯ bullpen appears to be taking shape, as the unit is also projected to include Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval, Erik Miller, Randy Rodr¨ªguez, Hayden Birdsong and Spencer Bivens.
Like Trivino, Bivens faced long odds to get to the big leagues, as he began his professional career in France and pitched in several independent leagues before signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent three years ago. Still, Bivens enjoyed a breakthrough season after making his long-awaited debut with San Francisco last year, logging a 3.14 ERA over 27 appearances, including two starts. The 30-year-old right-hander picked up where he left off this spring, recording a 2.70 ERA with 13 strikeouts and two walks over eight outings.
¡°The story is great, but the performance is what got him to the big leagues and kept him here,¡± Melvin said. ¡°The versatility is something that you don¡¯t often get. We saw him go five innings in a start last year. He came in with guys on base sometimes. He¡¯s basically done everything for us. He¡¯s had a good spring on top of it. It¡¯s always rewarding to be able to tell guys that are just great guys and great stories.¡±