Monday, July 21

TORONTO -- Matt Gage’s Giants debut was more than a decade in the making. 

A left-handed pitcher, Gage was selected by the Giants in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Siena College, but he never ended up reaching the Majors during his first stint with the organization. He climbed as high as Triple-A Sacramento before he was released in 2018, forcing him to seek big league opportunities elsewhere. 

Gage never could have predicted that one day he’d end up back with the Giants, who selected his contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday and then watched him toss a scoreless eighth inning in a 4-0 series-opening loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. 

“Coming back to the organization is just a full-circle moment,” Gage said. “Baseball will take you to funny places. Coming back to the team that originally drafted you, seven years later, to get to the big leagues is amazing.”

With Erik Miller on the mend from a left elbow sprain, Gage is expected to serve as the Giants’ second lefty reliever behind Newark, Calif., native Joey Lucchesi for now. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Gage, San Francisco parted ways with fellow southpaw Scott Alexander, who cleared waivers and elected free agency.

Gage, 32, entered Friday with a 1.42 ERA in 22 career appearances for the Blue Jays, Astros and Tigers. He opened the 2025 campaign with Detroit and didn’t allow a run over 5 2/3 innings in six big league relief outings, but he was designated for assignment on June 26 and opted to hit the open market. He received interest from the Phillies, Nationals and Blue Jays, but he found himself drawn back to the Giants, who signed him to a Minor League deal on July 2.

Gage tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings in five appearances for Triple-A Sacramento before he received his long-awaited callup from the Giants this week. It’s still early, but the club has liked what it’s seen from its one-time farmhand thus far. 

“He gets righties out, he gets lefties out,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s been getting everybody out. I think you’re always trying to find incremental upgrades, especially if it’s in your system.”

Losing Miller was a significant blow for San Francisco, as the 27-year-old had a 1.50 ERA over 36 appearances before landing on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 3. He’s slated to begin a throwing program in Arizona on Saturday, but he’s still expected to be out for several weeks. The Giants will likely use the second half of this month to evaluate Lucchesi and Gage and determine whether or not they need to add another lefty reliever to their bullpen mix ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline.

Lucchesi, 32, opened the season at Triple-A Sacramento, but he's recorded a 2.70 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings since being called up by the Giants on June 15 and has looked comfortable filling in for Miller recently. 

“Lucchesi’s done a really nice job for us,” Melvin said. “He’s come in in big situations, heart of the order, or whatever the big pockets of lefties are. He’s gotten righties out, too. He’s become a guy that we’re not afraid to use, obviously, in big situations and big parts of the game.”

The Giants announced Thursday that former managing general partner Bill Neukom, who was a top executive when the club won its first World Series title in San Francisco in 2010, has died. He was 83.

Neukom joined the Giants’ ownership group in 1995 and became a general partner in 2003. He succeeded Peter Magowan as managing general partner following the 2008 season, becoming known for his affinity for bow ties as well as for coining the phrase “The Giants Way.” Neukom remained in his role until he retired at the end of the 2011 campaign. 

“On behalf of Greg Johnson, our ownership group and the Giants family, we extend our deepest condolences to Bill’s wife, Sally, and the Neukom family,” Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said in a statement. “Bill will always hold a special place in our hearts and in the history of this franchise. He was instrumental in helping this organization and its players bring the first World Series Championship to San Francisco in 2010. 

“Bill will always be remembered for not only his leadership of this storied organization but also his colorful bowties and the fact he’d bring a glove to the ballpark to try and catch foul balls. He was a true gentleman, a dedicated fan and a friend to so many.”   

Neukom grew up in nearby San Mateo and lived next door to Charlie Graham Jr., the general manager of the San Francisco Seals, which helped foster his love for baseball at an early age. A longtime attorney, Neukom served as the lead lawyer for Bill Gates’ Microsoft for nearly 25 years. He was also a partner at the Seattle office of the international law firm K&L Gates, as well as the president of the American Bar Association from 2007-08.

• After missing nearly a month with a right hamstring strain, first baseman Bryce Eldridge returned to action at Triple-A Sacramento on Friday night. The Giants’ No. 1 prospect went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and played seven innings at first base in his first game since June 21.

• Outfielders Bo Davidson (No. 8) and Scott Bandura were promoted from High-A Eugene to Double-A Richmond on Wednesday. Davidson batted .309 with a .919 OPS, 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases over 72 games for the Emeralds this year. Bandura, a 2023 seventh-round Draft pick, similarly impressed after hitting .307 with an .838 OPS, seven homers and 30 steals over 81 games with Eugene.

• Also moving up was first baseman/outfielder Jakob Christian (No. 28), who made the jump to High-A Eugene after batting .272 with an .815 OPS, 10 home runs and 12 steals over 70 games with Single-A San Jose this year. The 22-year-old went 1-for-5 with a double in his Emeralds debut on Friday.

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