Hjelle allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Sunday.
Facing a top-tier offense on short notice after the Giants traded Sunday's projected starter, Kyle Harrison, to the Red Sox just before game time, Hjelle put in a fine performance. He allowed a sacrifice fly to Andy Pages in the first inning and a solo home run to Tommy Edman in the second, but the Giants got him off the hook with three runs in the fourth. Over 7.2 innings this season, Hjelle has allowed four runs while adding a 6:5 K:BB. This was his longest outing in the majors this season at 54 pitches (33 strikes), so it's unclear if he'll be stretched out as a starter -- he hasn't filled that role in the minors since 2023, instead functioning as a multi-inning reliever. Assuming Justin Verlander (pectoral) is good to go in the coming week, there may not be an opening in the Giants' rotation anyway.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Drawing last-minute start
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Hjelle will draw the start Sunday night against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Hjelle will take the mound in place of expected starter Kyle Harrison, who was traded to the Red Sox in a deal that brought perennial All-Star infielder Rafael Devers to San Francisco. Hjelle has posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with one strikeout over four innings in three appearances out of the bullpen this season, and he likely won't remain in the game long enough to potentially qualify for a win.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Logs win in season debut
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Hjelle (1-0) earned the win in Wednesday's 6-5 victory over San Diego, allowing one walk and striking out one in 2.2 scoreless innings.
The 28-year-old was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday after Jordan Hicks (toe) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Hjelle threw 18 of his 28 pitches for strikes and retired seven straight batters after allowing a walk. The right-hander had posted a 2.97 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 32:10 K:BB across 30.1 innings in 18 appearances with Sacramento before being recalled.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Recalled from Sacramento
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The Giants recalled Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.
Hjelle has been in the minor leagues all season, turning in a 2.97 ERA and 1.16 WHIP through 30.1 innings at Triple-A. With Jordan Hicks (toe) moving to the injured list, Hjelle will get another look with the Giants and figures to work in middle relief.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Sent to Triple-A
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Hjelle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hjelle will open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A after compiling a 6.75 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 12.0 innings in seven appearances with the Giants this spring. The right-hander appeared in 58 games with San Francisco in 2024, producing a 3.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 75 strikeouts over 80.2 frames, and he'll likely join the major-league roster relatively soon.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Takes fourth loss
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Hjelle (3-4) allowed three runs on four hits and struck out one over 2.2 innings to take the loss versus the Mariners on Sunday.
Hjelle was called on for a long-relief assignment after Robbie Ray left the game with a hamstring injury. Over nine appearances this month, Hjelle has allowed six runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out eight across 14.1 innings. He's at a 3.99 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 60:9 K:BB through 65.1 innings overall, and he's added four holds. Hjelle has lost his last three decisions and hasn't picked up a win since June 5.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Back from bereavement
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The Giants activated Hjelle from the bereavement list Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hjelle had been away from the club since Sunday. He will return to a middle relief role.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Moves to bereavement list
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The Giants placed Hjelle (personal) on the bereavement list Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Hjelle pitched a scoreless frame Saturday against the Rockies and will now step away from the team for a few days to be with his family. Randy Rodriguez was called up from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Tagged for third loss
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Hjelle (3-3) allowed three runs on four hits while striking out one and walking none over one inning, taking the loss Sunday versus the Guardians.
Hjelle has given up multiple runs in three of his last seven outings, taking two of his three losses this season in that span. The right-hander is now at a 3.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 46:6 K:BB through 44.2 innings while adding three holds. He sees very little high-leverage work as a multi-inning reliever, but his recent performance has offset his reliable control, as his groundball tendencies have led to too many hitters getting on base.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Takes loss Saturday
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Hjelle (3-2) allowed eight runs (six earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out one over two innings to take the extra-innings loss versus the Dodgers on Saturday.
Hjelle allowed a run in the 10th inning, but the Giants couldn't do anything more than pull even in their half of the frame. The Dodgers took over in the 11th, and Hjelle was left to take it on the chin, as he was seventh pitcher they used in the contest ahead of another likely bullpen game Sunday. Given the situation and opponent, it's understandable, but the poor outing still inflated Hjelle's ERA from 2.33 to 3.54. He's added a 1.03 WHIP and 40:6 K:BB with three holds over 40.2 innings as a multi-inning reliever this year.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Snags third win
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Hjelle (3-1) allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over 1.1 innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Hjelle gave up a solo home run to Pavin Smith in the fifth inning, but Arizona never made a serious threat at a comeback. Hjelle ended up with the win because Jordan Hicks needed 92 pitches to get through 3.2 innings despite the Giants' strong offensive showing in support of their pitchers. All three of Hjelle's wins have come since May 17, and he's allowed three runs over 12 innings in that span. The right-hander is at a 2.77 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB through 26 innings this season, mainly serving as a long-relief option.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Finishes off shutout of Phillies
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Hjelle (2-1) earned the win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night after tossing two scoreless innings and intentionally walking a batter.
The Giants were without Camilo Doval and Ryan Walker Tuesday night because of their recent workloads, so Hjelle was called upon to work the ninth and 10th innings with the game at 0-0. He executed perfectly, getting through two frames by generating weak contact and coming out with a win after Luis Matos knocked in the winning run on a sacrifice fly. It was a huge result for Hjelle after allowing runs in back-to-back outings coming into the game. The 27-year-old now owns a 2.95 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB in 21.1 innings.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Takes loss Wednesday
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Hjelle (0-1) took the loss versus the Mets on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings.
Blake Snell (thigh) was placed on the injured list Wednesday, forcing the Giants to go with a bullpen game. Hjelle ended up with the most innings of the seven pitchers used, but he was unable to match his success from his season debut Sunday versus the Diamondbacks, when he pitched two innings of one-hit ball. The right-hander was on the shelf with an elbow injury to begin the season, and he'll likely serve as a long reliever for the majority of 2024.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Excelling on rehab assignment
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Hjelle made the fifth appearance of his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Sacramento, striking out two while allowing one hit over a scoreless inning.
Hjelle was placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Opening Day due to a mild right elbow strain, but he appears to be bouncing back from the injury well based on how he's fared on his rehab assignment thus far. Between stops with Sacramento and Single-A San Jose, The right-hander has permitted two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven over 5.1 innings. Hjelle seems to be preparing for a relief role with the Giants once he returns from the IL, though if San Francisco elects to option him to Sacramento upon his activation, he could get stretched back out to start.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Diagnosed with sprained UCL
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Hjelle will be shut down for a couple weeks after being diagnosed with a right elbow sprain, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hjelle had been in position to win either a long relief job or potentially even a spot in the rotation, but now he has what could be a long-term injury. He'll be re-evaluated following the shutdown period, presumably at which point a decision will be made as to whether he needs surgery.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Could shift into rotation
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Giants manager Bob Melvin said Thursday that Hjelle is a candidate to move into the rotation with Tristan Beck (arm) sidelined, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants' starting pitching depth already seemed shaky and is now further thinned out with Beck out indefinitely due to an aneurysm in his upper arm. Melvin would prefer to keep Hjelle in long relief but now has no choice to consider him as a rotation option. The Giants also figure to look for help outside the organization. All 23 of Hjelle's major-league appearances have come in relief, but they've often covered multiple innings, and he was a starter almost exclusively in the minors.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Preparing for long relief
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Hjelle is expected to function as a long reliever in 2024, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Hjelle came up through the minors as a starter, but all 23 of his major-league appearances so far have come out of the bullpen. The right-hander is not stretching out as a starter this spring, which signals he'll be a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. That role comes with little fantasy interest, especially since it doesn't seem like manager Bob Melvin will deploy an opener as often as his predecessor, Gabe Kapler.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Optioned to Sacramento
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The Giants optioned Hjelle to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.
Hjelle surrendered six earned runs on 10 hits over 4.2 innings of long relief in Monday's series opener against the Phillies. He carries an 8.59 ERA across 22 total major-league innings this year.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Giants recalled Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
With Ross Stripling (back) headed for the injured list, Hjelle will come up from the minors to add extra depth to San Francisco's pitching staff. The 26-year-old righty has struggled this season in both the majors and minors, and he likely will be limited to low-leverage situations while with the Giants.
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Giants' Sean Hjelle: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Hjelle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.
He had an effective appearance Wednesday against the Padres, logging four scoreless innings while striking out five in relief en route to the win. That was easily Hjelle's best MLB appearance of the season, as he entered the game with a 10.13 ERA. He could be back up the next time the Giants need a fresh multi-inning arm.
