Ken

Giles

Giles posted a 6.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 58/22 K/BB ratio in 38 2/3 innings for Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate in 2024, so it’s unlikely anybody will give him an MLB contract. However, the 34-year-old has a career 2.71 ERA and a 33 percent strikeout rate in 355 1/3 MLB innings; however, injuries have limited him to eight total MLB innings since 2019, so he may never get back close to the level we have previously seen from him.

This one is a real surprise. Giles has looked extremely impressive this spring and figured to be in the mix to make Atlanta’s season-opening bullpen. The 33-year-old former closer will presumably open the year back at Triple-A Gwinnett as extra relief depth.

Giles averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball, which is pretty much where he’s typically been when he’s been able to pitch since he first returning from Tommy John in 2022. In his heyday, he averaged 97-98 mph as a closer for the Astros and Blue Jays. That doesn’t seem to be coming back, but he did have the slider working today. A couple of more outings like this will put him squarely into the mix for a spot in Atlanta’s pen.

Giles threw a bullpen session last month for interested teams and will get a look this spring with the Braves in Grapefruit League action. The 33-year-old former closer has been limited to just nine relief appearances in the majors since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign due to injury. He’s a worthwhile low-risk lottery ticket for a contending team like Atlanta in the event that he’s healthy and his fastball velocity is anywhere close to previous levels.

Giles remains unsigned just a few weeks away from spring training. The 33-year-old former closer has made just nine relief appearances in the big leagues over the last four seasons since 2020.

Giles, signed to a minor league deal by the Dodgers in May, had previously made four appearances in Rookie ball. He averaged just 92.6 mph with his fastball last night, down from 94.8 mph in his handful of appearances with Seattle last year and 97-98 mph during his time as a closer for the Astros and Blue Jays. It’s not at all likely that he’ll be able to help the Dodgers unless he adds velocity in the coming weeks.

The 32-year-old right-hander held another showcase for big league teams last week and apparently the Dodgers saw something that they liked. Giles has been limited to only nine appearances at the major league level over the last three seasons, so health and durability are obvious concerns here. He’ll likely head to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin his tenure with the Dodgers.

Giles has been working at Driveline in Arizona over the past five weeks. The 32-year-old has been limited to just nine appearances over the last three years due to injuries, but bullpen-needy teams figure to keep tabs on his progress.

Heyman adds that multiple teams are expected to be in attendance. The 32-year-old former closer has been limited to just nine appearances over the last three years due to injuries.

The Padres were one of 15 or more teams that were in attendance at Giles’ showcase earlier in February. It’s still unclear if they have made him an offer -- or plan to -- but they were at least intrigued enough to bring him in for an additional workout. The 32-year-old former closer tossed just 4 1/3 scoreless innings during the 2022 season, posting a 6/4 K/BB ratio along the way.