Bivens doesn’t have to look far in the Giants’ clubhouse to find someone who can relate. Flamethrower Jordan Hicks was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 17 and dubbed himself the “Diabetic Phenom” as a way to show that the condition doesn’t have to hold you back. Their shared experience created a natural touchstone when they first became Giants teammates last year.
“We pick each other’s brains,” Hicks said. “It’s more like, ‘Hey, you got a needle for me? I left mine at home.’ I got you.”
The Giants are perhaps better positioned than most to support players with Type 1 diabetes. Manager Bob Melvin’s daughter, Alexi, was diagnosed with Type 1 at 14, so he understands the challenges the condition can present for players, especially given baseball’s grueling schedule.
“Just add that in to everything he has to go through,” Melvin said of Bivens. “The travel can be tough when you have to bring your insulin. It’s just another facet that makes him a very appealing person. He doesn’t talk about it much and just wants to do his thing, but it’s an incredible story. Aside from that, he’s become a really good pitcher and a really valuable pitcher.”
Behind the scenes, players like Bivens and Hicks have another staunch advocate in Dr. Shana Alexander, a fellow Type 1 diabetic who is now in her sixth year as the Giants’ sports psychologist and director of mental health and wellness.
“I actually feel really passionate about the Type 1 community because I’m a Type 1 as well,” Alexander said. “I was diagnosed later in life [at 27], and I’m thankful for that because I see children and college students really struggle with kind of going through different transitions with it.
“As a Type 1 diabetic, it’s really nice to have support and guidance from somebody who lives it as well. Any time we have a Type 1 player that we sign, I always try to reach out to them and introduce myself. I’ll let them know that I’m a Type 1 as well and just let them know that we have several players and a little community, and I want to support them.”
Alexander still remembers the pride she felt when she watched the Giants and A’s face off at the Coliseum on Aug. 17, 2024, and saw three Type 1 diabetics -- Bivens, Hicks and left-hander Scott Alexander -- take the mound in the same game. One of her ongoing missions is to try to create an MLB-wide support group for other members of baseball’s Type 1 community, which also includes A’s closer Mason Miller, veteran outfielder Adam Duvall and Phillies executive Sam Fuld.
“It’s been really cool to see these guys be so open about it because these young kids can look up to them and recognize there aren’t limitations when it comes to Type 1 diabetes,” she said.
