SF Giants finalize Opening Day roster — with surprise decision

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SF Giants finalize Opening Day roster — with surprise decision

Evan Webeck · NY Post Sports

Wed, Mar 25, 2026 ·

5 min read

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SAN FRANCISCO — Jared Oliva is 30 years old and hasn't played in a big-league game since 2021, but that's set to change after the Giants included the speedy outfielder on their Opening Day roster.

Buster Posey and the Giants opted for Oliva over 24-year-old outfield prospect Luis Matos , who was designated for assignment Wednesday ahead of San Francisco's season opener against the Yankees .

"With a lot of hard conversations the last few days, that one was one that stood out as a real bright spot," Posey said of Oliva, "to be able tell him he was on the team."

Oliva, who led the Cactus League with 14 stolen bases, will serve as a pinch runner and the second backup outfielder alongside Jerar Encarnacion. Since appearing in 26 games for the Pirates between 2021 and 2022, Oliva spent three seasons in the minor leagues for three different teams.

"Honestly, pretty emotional," Oliva said. "It's been a lot of hard times. It's been very tough. A lot of times looking at yourself in the mirror and feeling like you're going against the current sometimes."

Outfielder Jared Oliva made the Giants' Opening Day Roster. MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Giants chose to go with Oliva, a career .179 hitter, and Encarnacion, a slugger signed out of the Mexican League in 2024, over Matos, a onetime top prospect who was out of options.

"The Matos one was hard. Been a Giant for a while now. … He's shown flashes of being a really good big leaguer," Posey said. "Ultimately [we] felt like carrying Oliva with what he can do on the basepaths, defensively, is a weapon for us. … With Jerar, the hope is to have some power."

There weren't too many other surprises — or decisions left to be made — as the Giants finalized their Opening Day roster after top prospect Bryce Eldridge was optioned last week.

Rule 5 pick Daniel Susac won the backup catcher job over Eric Haase after putting together a strong spring at the plate. The Giants would have to offer him back to the Athletics if he wasn't on the 26-man roster. Blake Sabol , in 2022, was the last Rule 5 pick to make the Giants' roster out of spring training.

"I really wanted to see which player stood out the most, and both played well," Posey said. "Daniel, I think the most important part, carried himself well defensively and swung the bat well also."

Haase was released, leaving the Giants with only one other catcher in the minor leagues who has played the position at the major-league level, 30-year-old Logan Porter , who will be joined by Jesus Rodriguez and Diego Cartaya at Triple-A Sacramento.

The Giants had indicated that they wanted to carry three left-handers in their bullpen and made good on those intentions with Ryan Borucki , Matt Gage and Erik Miller .

Buster Posey and the Giants opted for Oliva over 24-year-old outfield prospect Luis Matos Getty Images

Borucki, who worked with pitching coach Justin Meccage with the Pirates, was signed to a major-league deal this week after being cut by the White Sox . Joey Lucchesi , who was also brought into camp late, was granted his release and signed a major-league deal with the Angels.

Despite two days off over the first five days of the season, the Giants went with a 13-man pitching staff rather than using the favorable schedule to carry Matos or another position player into the season.

Ryan Walker and Miller are expected to split closing duties in a bullpen that also includes long men JT Brubaker and Keaton Winn , with Jose Butto, Caleb Kilian and Gage providing middle relief.

Spencer Bivens and Tristan Beck , who both had roles in prior year's bullpens, were optioned to Triple-A.

"The Beck and Bivens decisions were tough," Posey said. "Guys that have played roles with us (and) this year are certainly going to help us at some point. We're confident of that. Excited for guys like Kilian to get an opportunity. The pickup we had with Borucki gives us a third lefty out of the bullpen. Brubaker's a guy that's going to give us length. He's been there and done that before."

There weren't too many other surprises as the Giants finalized their Opening Day roster. Getty Images

Kilian, a former Giants prospect, made the team as a non-roster invitee after flashing a heater in the upper 90s and posting a 0.96 ERA in eight spring appearances.

Fellow reliever Reiver Sanmartin , who suffered a hip flexor strain in a World Baseball Classic exhibition, was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create room on the 40-man roster.

Left-hander Sam Hentges (right knee surgery/left shoulder surgery) and right-hander Joel Peguero (left hamstring strain) will start the year on the 15-day IL.

SF Giants Opening Day roster

Pitchers (13):LHP Ryan Borucki, RHP JT Brubaker, RHP José Buttó, LHP Matt Gage, RHP Adrian Houser , RHP Caleb Kilian, RHP Tyler Mahle , LHP Erik Miller, LHP Robbie Ray , RHP Landen Roupp , RHP Ryan Walker, RHP Logan Webb , RHP Keaton Winn

Catchers (2): Patrick Bailey , Daniel Susac

Infielders (6): Willy Adames , Luis Arraez , Matt Chapman , Rafael Devers , Christian Koss , Casey Schmitt

Outfielders (5): Harrison Bader , Jerar Encarnacion, Jung Hoo Lee , Jared Oliva, Heliot Ramos

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