San Francisco Giants' Carson Whisenhunt battled through a cross-country travel day and minimal sleep to deliver five strong innings against the Atlanta Braves.
Carson Whisenhunt's Wednesday began long before first pitch.
The San Francisco Giants left-hander learned late Tuesday night that he would be joining the major-league club for the second game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.
Less than 24 hours later, he was on the mound delivering one of the most impressive outings of his young career.
Whisenhunt helped guide San Francisco to a 7-5 victory, throwing five innings after a whirlwind travel schedule that included a red-eye-like turnaround and very little rest.
"I found out last night around 9 or 9:30 during the game," Whisenhunt said. "I packed everything, got a little sleep, woke up around 4 a.m. to get to the airport and took a 7 a.m. flight."
The journey didn't leave much time for recovery. After arriving in Atlanta, Whisenhunt estimated he managed only an hour and a half to two hours of sleep before reporting to the ballpark.
In total, he said he likely operated on roughly four hours of sleep before taking the mound.
Despite the circumstances, Whisenhunt never felt overwhelmed.
"For what I had to work with, I felt pretty solid," he said.
The outing continued a strong stretch for the 25-year-old, who has shown significant progress at Triple-A Sacramento this season. According to Whisenhunt, the biggest change has been his approach.
Rather than trying to overpower hitters or chase strikeouts, he has focused on attacking the strike zone and trusting his arsenal.
"Just trusting my stuff in the zone and not trying to be too fine," Whisenhunt said. "I'm trying to get early contact and go deeper into games."
That mentality has carried over to the major league level. Whisenhunt said each successful outing reinforces the confidence needed to remain aggressive against big-league hitters.
A key factor in that development has been the continued growth of his slider. While he still considers the pitch a work in progress, particularly when throwing it to right-handed hitters, it has become an increasingly valuable weapon against both sides of the plate.
The Giants also gave Whisenhunt early breathing room with a barrage of home runs, allowing him to attack hitters without pitching under constant pressure.
"It definitely makes it easier whenever you have a lead," he said.
Whisenhunt also praised fellow young Giant Bryce Eldridge, calling the 21-year-old's early success in the majors "pretty impressive" and a reflection of the work he has put in to reach this stage.
Join the Community
Don’t miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It’s completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
