The San Francisco Giants made a strategic roster move by recalling 26‑year‑old right‑hander Carson Seymour from Triple-A Sacramento and optioning reliever Sean Hjelle to strengthen their bullpen depth.
Seymour, ranked as the Giants’ No. 20 prospect by MLB Pipeline, posted a 3.89 ERA with 83 strikeouts over 74 innings in 15 Pacific Coast League starts, and is now set to make his long-awaited major league debut.
“We’re excited about having him here,” manager Bob Melvin said.
From Mets Draftee to Giants Big Leaguer
Originally drafted by the Mets in the sixth round out of Kansas State in 2021, Seymour was acquired by San Francisco in the 2022 trade that sent Darin Ruf to New York. Standing 6-foot-6 with a powerful arm, he’s developed into a top pitching prospect, drawing praise for his four-pitch arsenal that mixes a high‑90s fastball, two‑seamer, two distinctive sliders, changeup, and cutter.
During spring training, scouts and coaches alike noted his strikeout ability, marking him as a future rotation piece.
“We saw it in Spring Training,” Melvin said. “It’s big stuff. It’s high velocity. It’s down the mound. There’s a lot to like. There’s strikeouts involved. It’s someone that we have a bright future for. It’s not a bad idea to get guys here, get a taste of the big leagues, pitch them out of the bullpen. We do have some need for some length right now, and that’s probably how he’ll be used.”
The normally reserved pitcher misread the cue when it came time for River Cats manager Dave Brundage to tell him the exciting news. “I had a feeling something was going on,” Seymour said, “because I saw [pitching coach Alain Quijano] go on the phone prior to that. I’m like, ‘Something’s up, for sure,’ because usually we never meet with Brundy about any of that. He was like, ‘You’re going to Chicago.’”
Seymour’s promotion arrives amid a rocky stretch for the Giants’ relief corps, which allowed runs in six straight games and posted a 5.84 ERA during their homestand against Boston and Miami. Melvin cited the need for long-relief depth, especially following Hjelle’s workload–three consecutive appearances and four runs allowed in one inning–making Seymour a timely reinforcement.
Family Ties and Ted Lasso Connection
Baseball’s feel-good moments continue as well–Seymour’s wife, parents, sister, uncle, and even his father-in-law, Donnie Campbell, are set to witness his debut live. Campbell’s claim to fame? He coached Jason Sudeikis in high school and inspired the TV character Ted Lasso. Seymour smiled that “Ted Lasso energy” was trailing him to Chicago, adding warmth to the big-league milestone.
For now, Seymour is expected to work in long-relief, helping soak up innings and preserving the temperament of a young bullpen. His combination of strikeout upside and pitch variety makes him an appealing developmental piece, even if his changeup consistency remains a work in progress.
“He impressed me this spring,” an X user said.
Allegations Surrounding Hjelle
Just days before Seymour’s call-up, Hjelle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, a decision influenced not only by his recent on-field struggles but also by serious personal allegations.
Hjelle is currently under investigation by Major League Baseball after his wife accused him via a viral TikTok post of emotional abuse, infidelity, and abandonment, prompting an official inquiry under MLB’s domestic violence policy.
The Giants officially acknowledged awareness of these allegations and confirmed they’ve been cooperating with MLB, noting the matter now falls under league jurisdiction, and that there will be no public comment from the team. Melvin emphasized that MLB is handling the investigation, and meanwhile, Hjelle has not been placed on administrative leave and remains eligible to play.
Following his demotion, Hjelle declined to issue a detailed response, citing advice from his legal and agent teams, though he did confirm that he and his wife filed for divorce in May 2024 and are nearing finalization of the proceedings.
“This has been something that has been going on for over a year now in terms of our relationship, our divorce, our separation and everything,” Hjelle said. “I don’t have any official comment right now, I just want to talk to the appropriate people to figure out what the steps are.”
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