Free agent Ken Giles ready to display improved arm strength at throwing session post Tommy John surgery
On Wednesday, free agent relief pitcher Ken Giles is set to showcase his pitching skills for interested teams, in a bid to revive his injury-threatened career.
Giles' last three seasons have been severely curtailed by injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2020. He joined the Seattle Mariners in a two-year deal at the end of the season.
However, his comeback in 2022 was shortlived, as a finger injury sustained in spring training pushed back his return to June. He was then sidelined by shoulder trouble before he was designated for assignment by the Mariners last August and chose to become a free agent.
Having logged five years of MLB service time, Giles was eligible for free agency. A minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants followed, but he was released at the end of August last year. MLB insider Jon Heyman tweeted about Giles throwing bullpen for prospective interested teams:
"Ken Giles will be throwing a bullpen for interested teams this tomorrow at ASU in Tempe 9:15-10 am. Medicals will be provided upon request. 15 plus teams are expected."
Ken Giles will be throwing a bullpen for interested teams this tomorrow at ASU in Tempe 9:15-10 am. Medicals will be provided upon request. 15 plus teams are expected.
Giles' last successful season was with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, when he established himself as one of the best relievers in the game. He posted an ERA of 1.87 and notched up 83 strikeouts in 53 innings.
How many teams are interested in Ken Giles?
Last August, Ben-Nicholson Smith mentioned the Toronto Blue Jays looking at the 32-year-old Giles as a possible option to add to their roster. According to Ben Nicholson-Smith, over 15 teams will keep a close watch on Giles on Wednesday.
"Am told a few teams are showing interest in Ken Giles, who recently became a free agent. #BlueJays among them," tweeted Smith.
Am told a few teams are showing interest in Ken Giles, who recently became a free agent. #BlueJays among them.
Heard Giles asked for release from M's. SEA, with strong bullpen already & Boyd coming back, granted it. Giles came back from TJ & finger issue. Faced 18 batters. K'd 6
Ken Giles may still be a shrewd acquisition for many teams. His MLB career numbers pre-2019 make for some pretty good reading:
Three full seasons have elapsed since Giles was last a dominant late-inning force, but given his track record, he should still draw eyes from scouts. From 2014-19, Giles logged 347 1/3 innings of 2.67 ERA ball and stacked up 114 saves between the Phillies, Astros and Jays.
He fanned exactly one-third of his opponents along the way and did so while posting a lower-than-average 7.5% walk rate. Over that six-year period, only four qualified relievers in all of MLB posted a better swinging-strike rate than his mark of 17%: Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, Koji Uehara and Aroldis Chapman. He ranked 15th among that same set of 331 relievers in terms of generating chases on pitches outside the strike zone (36.5%).
While it is not possible to expect a season of 2019 standards, Giles remains a player of immense quality.