Giants change by-committee approach, name closer instead of keeping ‘organized chaos’

SAN FRANCISCO — Almost four months since pitchers and catchers reported for spring training, there are still plenty of firsts for the Giants’ rookie manager. 

An easy one he waited until Friday to knock out: Naming a closer.

“[Caleb] Kilian will close for us,” Tony Vitello declared before the Giants opened a three-game series against the Cubs, departing from their previous by-committee approach.

“We talked to several of those guys about just getting more organized. …The bullpen’s all about chaos, but the more you can have a baseline, I think it brings out the best in the group.”

The decision represents a quick about-face from Vitello, who as recently as this past Sunday commended the group for “being so great all year long” even though “we haven’t really had defined roles. It’s kind of been organized chaos.”

The news also coincides with the return of the last pitcher to formally hold the closer’s title in San Francisco, Ryan Walker, who was called up from a month-long assignment in the minor leagues.

Walker saved 30 games over the past three seasons but struggled last year and never reclaimed the role in spring training. He is 3-for-6 in save situations this season — one of eight pitchers Vitello has turned to in the Giants’ 21 save opportunities, including two on their last road trip who weren’t Kilian.

Keaton Winn, with his devastating splitter, seemed to be being primed to take over the role after receiving four recent late-inning opportunities. But he allowed the tying or go-ahead runs in two of those chances, including one on his third straight day of action that went awry.

Kilian is second to Walker with five save opportunities, converting four of them with a 3.34 ERA.

“I just think he’s done well in that spot,” Vitello said. “It also is a combination of what other guys need to do or can do for us. He wants the ball in that situation.”

Vitello hasn’t had many reliable options, adding an extra wrinkle to his duties managing a major league bullpen for the first time. Since the end of April, the Giants’ ragtag group of relievers have posted a 5.35 ERA that ranks third worst in the majors.

As the skipper attempts to instill some more order, Walker has a new role, too: fireman.

“Obviously he’s been in as big of a situation as you can imagine,” Vitello said. “A big thing for Walk is being able to come in and be the fireman in particular situations that might pop up really anytime after the starter leaves the game.”

In other words, the Giants will trust Walker to handle the biggest situations before the ninth inning. Winn and J.T. Brubaker can both handle multiple innings in the middle, and Vitello has been impressed with Dylan Smith since he was called up last week.

Once it gets to the ninth, the inning belongs to Kilian.

At least for now.

“Right now, I’m here to get my job done, whatever that job is,” Walker said. “But my ultimate goal is definitely to get back into those high-leverage positions and eventually climb my way back into that closer role.”

Walker was 3-for-4 in save opportunities with a 3.00 ERA on April 25 but allowed runs in each of his final five outings, blowing two saves, before being optioned back to the minors.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

It was the first time Walker had been sent back to the minors since he got his initial callup in May 2023, on the same day as former catcher Patrick Bailey.

“It didn’t really surprise me in a way,” he said. “I knew at some point it was probably going to happen. When it did happen, I didn’t hang my head. I was very positive. I told myself, OK, this is going to be a great time to work on your craft.”

Walker first went to the Giants’ facilities in Arizona for about a week, where he worked with Matt Yourkin, their pitching rehab coordinator, to sort through his issues before reporting to Triple-A Sacramento. He had issued 10 walks in 15 ⅓ innings at the time of his demotion.

The two made some small changes to his hyper-rotational cross-fire delivery that appear to have helped him regain his command. Besides one subpar outing, Walker issued only one walk over seven other appearances, including two that spanned multiple innings.

Rather than trying to stay parallel to the rubber in his motion, he’s now at a slight angle.

“Now I can almost have a straight shot to where my landing spot is. It became a lot more consistent,” Walker said. “Once the mechanics kind of cleared up, I noticed the bounce-back was so much easier. Things were moving the way they should.”