Who Is Hayden Birdsong? Rising Giants Prospect Dominates Minors and Eyes MLB Debut

San Francisco — The San Francisco Giants have found a jolt of mid-season electricity in 23-year-old right-hander Hayden Birdsong, whose rapid rise from bullpen weapon to rotation contender is rewriting early narratives around the club’s pitching depth. Birdsong’s eye-catching 1.91 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 29-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 28.1 big-league innings have forced manager Bob Melvin to give the rookie a long look as a starter. After earning the win in his first 2025 start against Kansas City — five scoreless innings on 80 pitches with four strikeouts and zero walks in a 3-2 victory — Birdsong is scheduled to make his second turn Monday afternoon in Detroit, where another strong outing could cement a permanent spot in the Giants’ rotation. The ‘Kick Change’ That’s Breaking the Internet Much of the buzz centers on Birdsong’s “kick change,” a rarely seen changeup gripped with the middle finger squarely on the baseball’s axis. Thrown at an average 89.1 mph, the pitch generates sudden late drop that limits opponents to a .214 average and just one extra-base hit all season. Viral slo-mo clips show the ball diving off the table, drawing comparisons to the best split-changes in the game and giving San Francisco a weapon that plays off Birdsong’s 96-mph four-seamer and tight slider. Why the Giants Need Him Now With ace Logan Webb anchoring the staff and injuries testing depth, Birdsong’s emergence arrives at a perfect time. Opponents slug just .250 in plate appearances ending with the changeup, while his four-seam fastball has produced a 28 percent whiff rate, ranking among the top quartile of MLB starters (minimum 25 IP). If the rookie maintains his walk suppression and ground-ball profile, he could turn San Francisco’s rotation from a question mark into a postseason strength. Scouting Snapshot • Drafted: 6th round, 2022 (Eastern Illinois) • Height/Weight: 6-3, 205 lb • Arsenal: 4-seam (95-97 mph), slider (83-85), kick change (88-90), cutter (91) • Delivery: Compact, repeatable arm swing with late hand break that hides the ball until release. What’s Next Birdsong’s Monday matinee versus the Tigers features a friendly matchup against a predominantly right-handed lineup vulnerable to changeups. Another quality start would all but guarantee the Illinois native a rotation slot when the Giants return home to face the Rockies this weekend. For a club hovering around .500 and searching for momentum, Hayden Birdsong’s soaring stock could be the storyline that defines the first half in San Francisco.