With the San Francisco Giants bullpen struggling to find consistency, manager Tony Vitello is turning to Caleb Kilian as the closer.
The San Francisco Giants are making a significant change at the back end of their bullpen.
Manager Tony Vitello announced before Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs that Caleb Kilian will take over as the club's primary closer moving forward.
The Giants have largely relied on a matchup-based approach throughout the season, but recent bullpen struggles have prompted the coaching staff to establish more defined roles.
The decision comes as San Francisco searches for stability in late-game situations after an inconsistent stretch from its relief corps.
A Surprising Success Story
Kilian's emergence has been one of the more unexpected developments of the Giants' season.
The right-hander entered spring training competing for an opportunity after joining the organization on a minor league contract. Now, just a few months later, he finds himself entrusted with protecting leads in the ninth inning.
Kilian's journey back to San Francisco has come full circle. Originally drafted by the Giants, he was later included in the trade that brought Kris Bryant to the organization in 2021. After several challenging seasons with the Cubs and injury setbacks that limited his progress, Kilian has found new life in his return to the Bay Area.
Through nearly 30 innings this season, he has delivered some of the most effective work of his major league career while already collecting four saves.
Bullpen Looking for Answers
The Giants entered 2026 facing questions about their bullpen construction.
Last year's trade deadline dramatically altered the relief corps when veteran late-inning arms Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval were moved. Randy Rodríguez appeared ready to inherit a larger role before an elbow injury ended his season and eventually led to surgery.
Rather than aggressively pursuing established relievers during the offseason, San Francisco focused on lower-cost additions and bounce-back candidates. Early returns were encouraging, as the bullpen helped fuel a strong start to the year.
That success, however, proved difficult to sustain. Injuries, inconsistency, and fluctuating performances have contributed to a rough stretch over the past several weeks, increasing the urgency to identify dependable late-inning options.
Ryan Walker Returns
Another notable development came Friday with the return of Ryan Walker from Triple-A.
Walker was one of the Giants' most reliable relievers in previous seasons but struggled to find consistency earlier this year before being optioned. While he is not immediately returning to a closing role, the right-hander made it clear that reclaiming high-leverage opportunities remains a personal goal.
For now, those opportunities belong to Kilian.
The Giants are hoping the 29-year-old can continue his breakout season and bring some much-needed stability to a bullpen that has been searching for answers throughout the summer.
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