SF Giants call up left-hander Matt Gage ahead of first game of second half

More than a decade ago, the Giants selected Matt Gage in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB draft out of Siena College. Gage advanced through the system but was released midway through the 2018 season while playing for Double-A Richmond, never playing for the big league team during his first stint with the organization.

Now, Gage is finally getting that opportunity.

The Giants announced on Friday afternoon that they’ve selected Gage from Triple-A Sacramento, a full circle moment for Gage as he will finally pitch for the team that gave him his first shot as a pro.

Additionally, Scott Alexander, who made two appearances with San Francisco, has cleared waivers and elected free agency.

With left-hander Erik Miller currently rehabbing from a left elbow sprain, Gage will take Alexander’s spot as a second lefty in the Giants’ bullpen alongside Joey Lucchesi, who has a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings.

Gage, who has a career 1.42 ERA over 25 1/3 innings in the majors, spent parts of five years in the Giants organization before being released in July 2018. He spent the rest of the ’18 season pitching in the minors for the Mets before venturing outside of affiliated ball, pitching for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League (2019); the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the independent Constellation Energy League during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020); and Venados de Mazatlan of Mexican Pacific Winter League (2020-21).

He returned to affiliated ball in ’21 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and made his major-league debut in ’22 for the Toronto Blue Jays. Gage pitched for the Houston Astros in ’23, then spent ’24 pitching for the Triple-A teams of the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. After being designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers in late June, Gage signed with the Giants in early July. With Sacramento, Gage didn’t allow a run over 5 1/3 innings.