Giants Spring Watch: Four Veterans to Follow in Cactus League

The Giants kicked off spring training with a pretty clear goal: turn potential into real impact for the 2026 season. Four players stand out—one likely Opening Day starter, two young hitters with serious upside, and a veteran depth arm.

This piece digs into what to watch as camp gets rolling and how these performances might shake up San Francisco’s plans soon.

Rotation bets and depth for 2026

Spring training always tests players, but for the Giants, it’s about balancing development with some much-needed stability. They’re hoping internal options step up, while keeping enough veteran arms around to handle the inevitable bumps.

The big question: can these guys turn a hot spring into steady production when the season drags on?

Landen Roupp: Opening Day candidate with the curveball on the line

Landen Roupp really turned heads late in 2025, putting up a 2.27 ERA from May through July. He showed the kind of durability teams crave, working deep into games when things are clicking.

His shot at the Opening Day rotation hangs on keeping that sharp curveball—the pitch that fueled his breakout, but could also be a risk if it fades. The Giants know a strong spring from Roupp could lock him in as a key starter, but they’re wary—any slip in command or health could cause chaos, like what happened with Kyle Harrison not long ago.

Spring gives Roupp his first real chance to prove he can keep it going for a full season.

Veteran depth to anchor innings

Alongside Roupp, the Giants need experienced depth to keep the rotation steady when younger arms hit rough patches. They seem to favor a mix of youth and reliability, making sure they don’t run out of innings if a prospect struggles.

Enter Martin Brubaker, a 32-year-old righty with a career ERA in the mid-5s. He’s shown just enough to earn another major-league deal and a shot at providing both innings and some veteran perspective in the clubhouse.

Martin Brubaker: innings-eating option with low risk

Martin Brubaker signed on for his durability and steady presence. He’s not here to dominate—he’s here to eat innings and help younger pitchers handle the grind.

His contract keeps the financial risk low, making him a safe bet for long relief or spot starts as the rotation shakes out. If Brubaker just sticks to his steady routine, he could end up as a mid-season rotation staple or the bullpen bridge that stops things from falling apart when the rotation gets tested early.

Young talent and the future mix

The Giants also have their eyes on two top prospects and a veteran hitter who might shape the 2026 lineup. Bryce Eldridge leads the prospect list as the team’s main future bat, and he’s already penciled in as the DH on depth charts.

San Francisco doesn’t seem in a hurry to push him into a full-time MLB role, even with his advanced approach at the plate. The idea is to let Eldridge learn and adapt at the top level, while still protecting his long-term upside.

Bryce Eldridge: DH slot, not a fast track to full-time duty

Bryce Eldridge offers a pretty exciting ceiling, and his bat has gotten plenty of buzz. The Giants want him to develop through real game situations, not just everyday reps, hoping that a longer adjustment period will pay off in the end.

For now, Eldridge is a high-upside piece who could boost the offense by mid-season, but they’re not rushing him. Patience seems to be the name of the game.

Jerar Encarnación: power off the bench and a first-base plan

Jerar Encarnación is getting groomed to eventually take over first base from Wilmer Flores and add some punch off the bench. With some defensive polish under Ron Washington, Encarnación could also become a regular DH, giving the Giants a right-handed power threat late in games.

That mix of first-base ability and righty pop makes Encarnación a sneaky-important part of the team’s long-term offensive plans.

Defensive upside and a speedier path to impact

The Giants hope Heliot Ramos can bounce back defensively and turn better contact into real value. Last year was rough in center field, but San Francisco thinks defense is the easiest part of his game to fix.

If Ramos can clean up his reads and routes, he’ll get more chances at the plate. That could help him finally reach his potential ceiling, or at least get a lot closer.

Camp watch and roster security

Prospects and fringe veterans have to prove themselves in camp. If they don’t, they could lose their roster spots.

I keep thinking about the potential improvements from Roupp, Brubaker, Eldridge, Encarnación, and Ramos. These guys could really shake up the Giants’ lineup and rotation for 2026.

San Francisco is trying to balance development with caution. They’re putting a lot of hope in Roupp for the rotation and leaning on Brubaker as an anchor.

The team’s also watching Eldridge, Encarnación, and Ramos to see if they can bounce back on both offense and defense. Honestly, it feels like these spring battles might shape the Giants’ future more than most people realize.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Four key Giants veterans worth watching closely as Cactus League play begins