COLE WAITES NEWS

Sent to minor-league camp The Giants reassigned Waites to minor-league camp Wednesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Waites is healthy again after missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he'll need to prove himself at the Triple-A level before potentially getting another look in San Francisco's bullpen. The 26-year-old righty previously made 10 appearances out of the big-league bullpen between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, logging a 6.75 ERA and 2.25 WHIP over eight innings.

MARCH 5 • ROTOWIRE

Recovered from surgery Waites (elbow) completed his recovery from Tommy John surgery and is now preparing for spring training, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact The 26-year-old underwent the procedure in September of 2023, and it appears his absence won't extend into 2025. Waites has just 10 big-league appearances under his belt and will likely need a strong showing in spring training to have a chance of cracking the Opening Day roster.

NOVEMBER 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Brought back by Giants The Giants re-signed Waites (elbow) to a minor-league contract Sunday.

Impact Waites was non-tendered by San Francisco earlier this month but is now back in the organization. The 25-year-old had Tommy John surgery in September and will be sidelined until 2025. He'll now get to rehab in familiar surroundings.

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

No longer with Giants Waites (elbow) was non-tendered by the Giants on Friday.

Impact Waites is recovering from Tommy John surgery that will keep him out for the entire 2024 season. The hard-throwing righty reliever had a down year in 2023, logging a 6.16 ERA at Triple-A and struggling in a brief look in the majors.

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoes Tommy John surgery Waites (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Waites was diagnosed with a right elbow sprain back in mid-July and apparently didn't respond very well to a period of rest and rehab. Giving the unfortunate timing of his UCL reconstruction procedure, the 25-year-old can probably be ruled out through all of next season. He's facing a 12-to-15 month recovery process.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled, goes on 60-day IL Waites was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Sacramento and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.

Impact This is largely just a procedural move to clear out a 40-man roster spot for Heliot Ramos (oblique) as he returns from the 60-day IL and heads to Triple-A. Waites will likely be optioned back to Sacramento once he returns to full health.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Waites was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento by the Giants on Thursday, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

Impact The move happened after San Francisco's victory over Arizona on Thursday. It clears room for Alex Wood with Wood coming off the 15-day injured list Friday. Waites will likely be an up-and-down option for the Giants throughout the 2023 campaign.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A Waites was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Sacramento, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Waites had surrendered 10 earned runs on 11 hits and 12 walks through 9.2 innings this season at the Triple-A level, but the Giants need a fresh bullpen arm leading into the second of three games at Houston. The 24-year-old right-hander figures to operate in a low-leverage role.

MAY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Waites (lat) was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Waites made his spring debut Thursday, striking out two and allowing one hit over a scoreless inning. The plan is for Waites to build up with Sacramento early in the season. It's safe to assume that he's healthy since he got into game action, and a strong showing with Sacramento should earn the right-hander a look at the major-league level at some point this season.

MARCH 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

To make spring debut Thursday Waites (lat) is scheduled to make his spring debut Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Waites suffered a right lat strain just before the start of spring training, but he's made steady progress over the last several weeks and should be an option for the Giants' bullpen sometime in mid-to-late April. He's already been ruled out for an Opening Day roster spot, but that's only to allow more time for a proper build-up.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing live BP again Waites (lat) is throwing another live bullpen session Sunday at the Giants' spring facility, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact It's the second live bullpen session for Waites, as the right-hander is working his way back from a strained right lat. The Giants have already announced that the 24-year-old will miss the start of the season, but it does appear Waites will be able to return to the San Francisco bullpen before the end of April if there are no setbacks.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Slated for live batting practice Waites (lat) will throw live batting practice Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Waites has already been ruled out for Opening Day because of a strained right lat, but he's progressing and might not miss too much time. The right-hander is expected to appear in some Cactus League games before the schedule runs out.

MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not expected to be ready for opener Waites (lat) is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, Evan Webeck of the Mercury News reports.

Impact Waites sustained a right lat strain in early February just before the start of camp. He's resumed throwing off a mound but isn't going to have enough time to avoid an injured list stint. It does seem as though Waites should be an option for the Giants at some point in April, though.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set for another bullpen session Waites (lat) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Waites suffered a right light strain in early February, but he's made steady progress since resuming a throwing program a couple of weeks ago. The 24-year-old could be an option for the Giants' bullpen sometime in the opening month of the 2023 season if everything continues to go smoothly.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes throwing program Waites (lat) resumed a throwing program Wednesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Waites has been on the shelf all camp due to a right lat strain he suffered prior to the start of spring training. He's evidently made some nice progress of late, although it might be a push getting him ready in time for Opening Day.

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hopes to resume throwing Monday Waites (lat) will be re-evaluated Sunday and hopes to be cleared to resume throwing Monday, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Waites strained his right lat prior to camp and has been shut down since then, but he could still have enough time to get ready for Opening Day if he gains clearance to throw soon. If healthy, Waites has the potential to work his way into a high-leverage bullpen role.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will begin throwing in one week Waites (lat) will begin a throwing program in a week, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Waites sustained a right lat injury in early February, but his MRI showed no major damage. The right-hander will still be delayed for a bit in camp, and a stint on the injured list to begin the regular season hasn't been ruled out yet.

FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

MRI shows no major damage Waites was cleared of any tendon damage in his right lat on Wednesday, Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Waites strained his right lat just before he arrived at Giants camp, but an MRI taken this week showed significant healing. He is expected to pick up a baseball again within a couple of weeks, though the 24-year-old can probably already be ruled out for a spot in the Giants' active Opening Day bullpen.

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Visiting doctors for lat injury Waites suffered a right lat injury during the first week of February and is scheduled to visit the Giants' team doctor in the coming days, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area repo...

Impact Waites made just seven appearances for the Giants in 2022, but he pitched reasonably well during his limited sample of 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and four walks. The right-hander is expected to be a middle-innings option for San Francisco in 2023, but the lat injury could derail his chances of clinching a spot on the Opening Day roster.

FEBRUARY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rejoins big club Waites was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Waites was called up for his first taste of the majors Sept. 12 and appeared in five games before he was sent back to Sacramento 10 days later. The 24-year-old allowed one earned run with a 3:4 K:BB across five innings during that stretch, and he's now back with the big-league club for the final two games of the season.

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Waites was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Impact Waites gave up one earned run on five hits and four walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings in five September appearances. This was the first big-league cup of coffee for the 24-year-old righty.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE