Flamethrower Peguero makes debut for Giants 10 years after signing 1st pro contract

SAN DIEGO -- On Aug. 21, 2015, right-hander Joel Peguero signed his first professional contract with the Rays as an 18-year-old amateur free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.

Exactly 10 years later, Peguero can finally call himself a big leaguer.

The Giants selected the hard-throwing Peguero from Triple-A Sacramento as part of a series of roster moves they announced prior to Thursday afternoon’s 8-4 loss to the Padres at Petco Park.

San Francisco also recalled outfielder Luis Matos, with right-hander Kai-Wei Teng and outfielder Grant McCray being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in a pair of corresponding moves. The Giants transferred reliever Erik Miller (left elbow inflammation) to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Peguero, who topped out at 102.1 mph while firing two scoreless innings in his long-awaited Major League debut.

“It feels amazing,” Peguero, 28, said. “I was waiting for a long time. My dream has come true now.”

The Giants were in need of a fresh arm due to the injury to right-hander Landen Roupp, who was forced to depart Wednesday’s 8-1 loss to the Padres after spraining his left knee while attempting to field a line drive in the third inning.

Roupp will undergo an MRI exam in San Francisco on Thursday afternoon and is expected to be placed on the IL on Friday, when left-hander Carson Whisenhunt is slated to be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to face the Brewers at American Family Field.

The Giants were hoping Justin Verlander would be able to provide some length on Thursday, but the 42-year-old right-hander couldn’t get out of a sloppy six-run fifth that featured three consecutive bunts from the Padres. Third baseman Casey Schmitt and Matos combined to make two errors on the first one from Freddy Fermin, which allowed San Diego to go ahead, 4-2, and take the season series between the division rivals by a commanding 10-3 margin.

“This was one of the more frustrating games of my career, especially with the kind of season I’ve had,” said Verlander, who ended up being charged with seven runs over 4 1/3 innings despite flashing good stuff. “You’re kind of scratching and clawing to find your way out of it and feel like you kind of finally found something to grasp onto. And then you have a game and ending like that. I’m being tested, for sure.”

Peguero provided a more uplifting note to an otherwise deflating afternoon, as he instantly lit up the radar gun when he entered the game the following inning. He worked around a two-out single to Luis Arraez to post a clean sixth before returning to the mound in the seventh, when he struck out Ramón Laureano swinging on a 101.8 mph sinker and coaxed a flyout from Jake Cronenworth to leave a pair of runners stranded and cap his milestone outing.

“For a first look, it was really good,” manager Bob Melvin said.

It’s been a long journey for Peguero, who came up with the Rays organization and rose all the way to Triple-A Durham in 2021. Still, he never broke into the Majors and ended up being traded to Colorado the next year. He pitched at Triple-A for the Rockies and Nationals organizations over the next two seasons, but he spent the entire 2024 campaign at the Tigers’ Double-A affiliate in Erie, where he recorded a 3.14 ERA over 43 relief appearances.

The Giants signed Peguero to a Minor League deal over the offseason and were quickly impressed when they saw the non-roster invitee hit 101 mph in his first bullpen session at Scottsdale Stadium in February.

“That’s a blessing from God,” Peguero said of his high-octane velocity.

Peguero ultimately emerged as one of the best stories of the spring, earning the 2025 Barney Nugent Award as the best newcomer in big league camp after working 7 2/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in nine exhibition appearances for the Giants.

Peguero fell just short of winning a spot in the Giants’ Opening Day bullpen, but he endured a tough start to the season at Triple-A Sacramento, where he missed close to a month with a knee injury he suffered at the end of April.

Peguero returned to post a 5.10 ERA over his first 35 relief appearances of the year, but he hit his stride in the second half, logging a 2.45 ERA with 26 strikeouts and eight walks over 22 innings in his last 14 outings for the River Cats. Opposing hitters are only 12-for-78 (.154) against him over that span.

“When he left spring, he was a guy that we felt like we might see," said Melvin. "He was on the verge of making the team and got off to a little bit of a slow start. He’s pitching his best baseball right now."