There will not be a protracted search to replace Bryan Price as the Giants’ next pitching coach. The team officially promoted J.P. Martinez into the role after four seasons as the team’s assistant pitching coach.
The #SFGiants have announced that J.P. Martinez has been promoted to Pitching Coach.
In his four seasons as a part of SF’s pitching group, Giants pitchers have the fourth-lowest ERA in the National League at 3.80. pic.twitter.com/tgbB2HDPKx
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) October 18, 2024
Martinez, 42, joined the Giants staff as an assistant pitching coach in 2021. He previously spent six seasons with the Minnesota Twins.
How this move impacts the Giants
The Giants aren’t in the postseason right now for multiple reasons. However, one of the biggest reasons, if not the biggest reason, is that they didn’t prevent enough runs this season. The pitching staff was an underrated weakness of the 2024 Giants, although it was partially obscured by a few good individual seasons in the rotation and bullpen.
If the Giants are going to compete in 2025, they’ll need to do better on the pitching side. And if they’re going to do better there, they’ll need to develop the pitchers already in the system. Landen Roupp finished the season strong, and Hayden Birdsong’s magic changeup gives him a chance to be something more than an average starter. Martinez has the advantage of familiarity, and he understands the language of the modern game, with spin rates and pitch shapes and what have you.
The Giants will need more to contend than a pitching coach who’s familiar with his pitchers, especially if Blake Snell doesn’t return, but it speaks to Martinez’s reputation that he’s stuck around the Giants for two different managers and two different presidents of baseball operations. Check back in a few months to see how much blame or praise he’s getting.
Additional reading
(Photo: Andy Kuno / San Francisco Giants / Getty Images)
