Kai-Wei

Teng

Teng had already been DFA’d, so that was obviously coming. Small, who was acquired from Milwaukee in February, missed most of the season with an oblique strain. He still might become a useful bullpen piece at some point.

Teng made four relief appearances last year for the Giants and struggled mightily at the Triple-A level with a bloated 8.60 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 61/44 K/BB ratio across 75 1/3 innings (23 appearances, 13 starts). The 25-year-old righty figures to pass through waivers unclaimed.

Teng heads back to the minors after making four relief appearances for the Giants this season with Sean Hjelle back from a stint on the injured list.

With Luke Jackson (back) heading to the injured list, Teng will get a chance to work out of the Giants’ bullpen. The 25-year-old hurler registered a 4.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 96/48 K/BB ratio across 79 innings at Triple-A Sacramento to end the 2023 campaign. Teng will be making his big league debut when he gets his name called by manager Bob Melvin.

Ramos is the headliner among a batch of cuts from Giants camp earlier this week, but the former top prospect hasn’t quite ever put it together at the highest level. He has a ton of over-the-fence pop, but his plate skills leave much to be desired. Wisely and Hummel have big-league experience, but project as bench depth in a best-case scenario.

Teng advanced to the Triple-A level for the first time in 2023 — posting a 4.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 96/48 K/BB ratio over 19 innings in 17 appearances (16 starts). He’ll open the 2024 campaign back at Triple-A Sacramento where he’ll function as extra rotation depth for the Giants. Now that he’s on the 40-man roster, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a spot start or two at the big league level.

Teng, 24, has long boasted strong strikeout rates, but between his middling velocity and subpar control, he’s never gotten much love as a prospect. He has a 3.38 ERA and a 45/22 K/BB ratio in 34 2/3 innings since moving up to Triple-A earlier this season.

Teng allowed three hits and walked two while allowing one homer. After a rough first two starts to begin the 2021 season, the right-hander has allowed just two runs over his last 10 innings with 18 strikeouts in that timeframe for the Emeralds. Acquired in a deal with the Twins for Sam Dyson, Teng doesn’t have a true out pitch, but he commands four average offerings to all parts of the plate; including a 91-93 mph fastball with late life. His change could become a plus pitch in time, and he also throws a slider and curve for good measure. Teng isn’t a future ace, but he has the command and arsenal to be a starter, and could join the San Francisco rotation before the end of 2022.

Teng has pitched very well for Low-A Cedar Rapids this year, and the burly 6-foot-4, 260-pound right-hander owns a 1.60 ERA with a 41/9 K/BB mark to prove it. He projects as a backend starter, but he’s improved significantly since joining the Minnesota system. He could help the Giants in the next decade.