BLAKE SABOL NEWS

DFA'd by San Francisco The Giants designated Sabol for assignment Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact The move makes room on the Giants' 40-man roster for Justin Verlander, whose one-year, $15 million contract was officially signed Saturday. Sabol spent most of the 2024 regular season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he slashed .246/.340/.388 with 11 stolen bases, 11 home runs and 54 RBI across 403 plate appearances. He did appear in 11 regular-season games with the Giants, going 10-for-32 with five walks, two doubles and one RBI.

22 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Sacramento The Giants optioned Sabol to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.

Impact Playing time has been hard to come by in the majors for Sabol, as this is now the second time he's been optioned back to Triple-A after a few days in the big leagues without playing in a game. Luis Matos was recalled from the minors to fill the open roster spot.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned from Triple-A The Giants recalled Sabol from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

Impact The addition of Sabol gives the Giants a third catcher behind Patrick Bailey and Curt Casali who's also capable of filling in at first base or in the corner outfield in a pinch. Sabol spent the entire 2023 season on the Giants' roster as a Rule 5 selection, but he's logged just 38 plate appearances over 11 games with the big club in 2024.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Giants optioned Sabol to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Impact Sabol had been recalled Tuesday but was sent back down two days later without having appeared in a game. He made room on the active roster for trade acquisition Mark Canha.

AUGUST 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Back in big leagues The Giants recalled Sabol from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 26-year-old has been in the minors since late May and will rejoin the Giants after he posted a .878 OPS in his past 22 games with Sacramento. Sabol isn't likely to see significant playing time while up with the big club.

JULY 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down to Double-A Sabol was optioned to Double-A Richmond on Tuesday.

Impact Sabol's absence from the lineup Tuesday versus the Pirates was initially attributed to southpaw Martin Perez being on the mound for Pittsburgh, but this news sheds further light on the matter. Sabol's demotion coincides with Patrick Bailey's (concussion) reinstatement from the injured list and Ryan McKenna's addition to the 26-man roster. Sabol was seeing steady playing time due to injuries to Bailey and Tom Murphy (knee) and produced a .796 OPS across 38 plate appearances, but he's now heading to the Double-A level for the first time since 2022.

MAY 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Taking seat Sabol is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Sabol will dodge left-handed pitcher Martin Perez on Tuesday as Curt Casali fills in behind the dish and bats ninth.

MAY 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard in loss Sabol went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians.

Impact Sabol has just three hits over his last 15 at-bats, but two of them have been homers, and he's accounted for four RBI in that span. The catcher's fifth-inning blast Tuesday was the Giants' lone run of the contest. He's up to a .244/.306/.409 slash line with 13 long balls, 42 RBI, 36 runs scored and three stolen bases over 101 games this season. With Patrick Bailey (concussion) likely returning Wednesday, Sabol's playing time is probably set to be reduced.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Key part of winning rally Sabol went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Monday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Guardians.

Impact Sabol provided a game-tying RBI single in the 10th inning, then stole second and scored on LaMonte Wade's single for the winning run. The steal was Sabol's third of the season and his first since April 26. The 25-year-old has gone just 2-for-12 (.167) in September, but both of his hits this month have proven valuable. For the season, he's slashing .243/.304/.399 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 35 runs scored and nine doubles across his first 100 major-league contests.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats 12th homer Sabol went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.

Impact Playing time has been fairly sparse for Sabol lately, but he's gone 7-for-23 (.304) across his last eight contests. His homer Friday was his 12th of the season, but his first since July 19. The rookie catcher/outfielder is at a .245/.304/.404 slash line with 40 RBI, 34 runs scored, two stolen bases and nine doubles through 97 contests. Sabol and Joey Bart will likely split time behind the plate while Patrick Bailey (concussion) is out -- Bart has drawn the start at catcher in two of the three games Bailey's missed so far.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Sunday Sabol is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Sabol had started at either catcher or in left field in five of the past six games, but he'll join several of the Giants' left-handed hitters on the bench Sunday while Atlanta brings southpaw Max Fried to the hill. Though he's continued to receive fairly steady playing time of late, Sabol has mustered a lowly .483 OPS while striking out at a 43.5 percent clip since the All-Star break.

AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Garners fourth straight start Sabol will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Sabol went 1-for-8 at the dish while starting each of the past three games in left field, but he'll shift behind the plate Wednesday while No. 1 backstop Patrick Bailey rests in the series finale. The Giants seem content to give Sabol a look as their primary left fielder against right-handed pitching while all of Mike Yastrzemski (hamstring), Mitch Haniger (forearm) and AJ Pollock (oblique) are on the injured list.

AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting in second straight Sabol is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact The Giants have now faced left-handed starters on consecutive days, so it comes as little surprise that the lefty-hitting Sabol hasn't been included in the lineup for either of those contests. The rookie Rule 5 selection doesn't have a clear path to a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching either, but the Giants have often made an effort to find room for Sabol at either catcher, designated hitter or left field by resting one of their everyday players. Sabol has held his own when the platoon advantage is in his favor, as he owns a .280/.332/.492 slash line (123 wRC+) with 19 extra-base hits in 211 plate appearances versus righties.

JULY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats solo shot Wednesday Sabol went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Reds on Wednesday.

Impact San Francisco didn't manage much offense in the contest, as Sabol was the only player on the team with multiple hits. He brought the Giants to within a run with his seventh-inning solo shot, but that was the final tally of the game. Sabol looks to be earning more playing time thanks to a strong July during which he has thus far slashed .321/.321/.786 with four homers and nine RBI over 10 games. His fantasy appeal lies in his eligibility at catcher and is aided by the fact that he also gets more-than-occasional playing time in the outfield.

JULY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep twice in loss Sabol went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners.

Impact Sabol accounted for both of the Giants' run-scoring plays with a two-run blast in the fourth and a three-run homer in the ninth. While they came up a run short, this was still a massive game for Sabol individually, as the five RBI were a career high. The catcher/outfielder is up to 10 long balls, 33 RBI, 27 runs scored, two stolen bases and a .255/.317/.445 slash line through 65 contests. He's hit safely in five straight games, but the returns of Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Conforto from their respective hamstring injuries could make it tougher for Sabol to see time in left field going forward.

JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers off bench Sabol went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Mets.

Impact Sabol went deep in the seventh inning, but the Giants' comeback effort fell short. He snapped a 20-game homer drought. The 25-year-old has hit safely in four straight games, going 4-for-13 (.308) over that span. For the season, he's slashing .250/.313/.413 with eight homers, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored and two stolen bases over 218 plate appearances. He continues to see regular time between catcher, left field and designated hitter.

JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Sunday Sabol is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact While moving between designated hitter, left field and catcher, Sabol had started in each of the Giants' last eight games while going 5-for-26 with a pair of doubles. The lefty-hitting rookie will hit the bench with a southpaw (David Peterson) on the bump for the Mets, but Sabol's multiple pathways to the lineup should continue to make him at least a semi-regular starter against right-handed pitching.

JULY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Saturday Sabol is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest versus the Dodgers.

Impact Sabol is out of the lineup for a second consecutive game with Michael Conforto, Luis Matos and Mike Yastrzemski making up the Giants outfield against the Dodgers and Bobby Miller on Saturday. Sabol has hit just .194 with a .568 OPS thus far in June over 31 at-bats, and he may see less playing time with those three assumed to be the starting group at the current moment.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Monday Sabol is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Sabol went 3-for-15 with three walks, two RBI and a run while starting in each of the past five games. Four of those starts came as a catcher, though Sabol's increased usage behind the dish may have been in some part due to the fact that Patrick Bailey had been dealing with neck tightness. Bailey is expected to operate as the Giants' primary backstop for the foreseeable future, but Sabol should still see semi-regular playing time against right-handed pitching while moving between catcher, designated hitter and the corner outfield.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in loss Sabol went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Orioles.

Impact Sabol went yard in the sixth inning to get the Giants on the board. He's hit safely in five of his last six games, going 7-for-23 (.304) over that stretch. With Joey Bart (groin) expected back soon, Sabol's hot stretch should help him maintain his place on the roster. For the season, the Rule 5 pick has slashed .254/.318/.442 with seven homers, 18 RBI, 17 runs scored and two stolen bases through 151 plate appearances.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bows out of lineup Sabol is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates.

Impact He'll retreat to the bench as the Giants stock their lineup with eight right-handed options to counter Pirates southpaw Rich Hill. Sabol has been serving as the Giants' primary designated hitter of late, but he'll cede the role to David Villar in the series opener.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lifts three-run blast Sabol went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Brewers.

Impact Sabol entered Sunday 0-for-17 over his last four games, with a 1:7 BB:K in that span. It took him until the seventh inning to snap the drought, with his homer being his first since April 29. While the bat has cooled off a bit since Patrick Bailey took over the primary catching duties, Sabol is still getting in the lineup regularly at designated hitter and occasionally in left field. Sabol is slashing .244/.313/.437 with six homers, two stolen bases, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored through 131 plate appearances.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Playing regularly Sabol will start at catcher and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Brewers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Sabol will step in behind the dish in place of Patrick Bailey, who is resting for the series finale after catching in each of the past three contests. Even though Bailey looks poised to remain the Giants' primary backstop while Joey Bart (groin) is on the shelf, Sabol's ability to fill in at designated hitter or in the corner outfield has allowed him to retain a regular role. The rookie will draw a seventh consecutive start Sunday, despite going 2-for-21 with seven strikeouts over the previous six contests.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

How should the Giants manage concerns over Blake Sabol, Brandon Crawford? The Giants know the benefits Sabol and Crawford can bring, but a messy defensive game Wednesday highlights areas of concern with both.

MAY 25, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Gets third consecutive start Sabol will start at catcher and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Twins, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Sabol will pick up his third straight start at a different spot, after previously manning left field in Monday's series opener and serving as the Giants' designated hitter in Tuesday's 4-3 win. He'll get a turn behind the dish in the finale Wednesday while Patrick Bailey rests after starting each of the past four games. Though top backstop Joey Bart (groin) was recently placed on the injured list, the Giants appear content to give Bailey the bulk of the work behind the plate while Sabol continues to serve as a more versatile bench piece.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE