On Wednesday July 30, 2025, the San Francisco Giants designated RHP Sean Hjelle for assignment.
Hjelle, 28, is a former second round pick by the Giants in the 2018 MLB draft. When he made his debut with the Giants in 2022, he tied the MLB record for the tallest player in MLB history at 6 feet 11 inches tall. 11 year veteran reliever Jon Rauch, who retired in 2013, is the other 6’11’’ pitcher.
In his Giants career, Hjelle has a 7-8 record with a 5.11 ERA.
Hjelle had a consistent role in the Giants bullpen last season. He appeared in 58 games, but has otherwise been inconsistent and ineffective in his MLB career.
He can now be claimed off waivers by any team. If no other team claims Hjelle, he will either be optioned to AAA Sacramento or released entirely.
Who Did The Giants Replace Sean Hjelle With?
The Giants DFA’d Hjelle to clear a 40-man roster spot after their trade with the New York Mets on Wednesday July 30, 2025.
The Giants traded reliever Tyler Rogers for top Mets prospects Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert, as well as relief pitcher José Buttó.
Buttó is going to take Rogers’s spot on the roster. But it appears the Giants are also planning to add Tidwell or Gilbert to the 40-man roster immediately, but not both. It will likely be Tidwell.
The need for Tidwell to be called up became apparent in recent weeks after the Giants sent struggling No. 4 starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong down to AAA Sacramento.
To make matters worse, starting pitcher Landen Roupp landed on the injured list on Friday July 25, 2025 with right elbow inflammation. That left the Giants with only three healthy starting pitchers: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander.
The Giants called up top pitching prospect Carson Wisenhunt on Monday July 28, 2025, but that still left them with only 4 healthy starting pitchers, in need of a fifth.
The Giants could still acquire a fifth starting pitcher at the deadline. But it appears that they need Tidwell on the 40-man roster in case they don’t. Even if they do, it gives them great rotational depth.
Hjelle was the clear candidate to be DFA’d after such an uneven performance this season. With no strong past résumé to justify keeping Hjelle around, moving him off of the 40-man roster was the logical choice.
Hjelle’s Abuse Allegations
In June 2025, Sean Hjelle was accused of abuse by his wife Caroline in a post on TikTok.
The verity of the allegations is unknown and the MLB investigation is ongoing. So, the Giants can’t necessarily assume that they are true. The Giants also held on to Hjelle after the allegations initially came out. So they likely didn’t make a judgement on the allegations at that point.
But still, combined with his performance, the allegations could be a contributing factor to Hjelle’s DFA. The allegations have become sort of a distraction that the Giants may not want to associate themselves with.
Whether or not the allegations factored into the decision to DFA Hjelle is going to become quickly apparent in the Giants next decision about Hjelle.
In the event that he does not get claimed off waivers, which is somewhat likely, the Giants will decide whether to ask Hjelle to return to AAA Sacramento or release him from the organization entirely.
If they are not worried about the allegations, they will try to retain him at AAA Sacramento. If they release him outright (and Hjelle doesn’t elect free agency himself) then it’ll be a clear sign that the Giants are concerned about the allegations.
What do you think, Giants fans? Should San Francisco release Sean Hjelle?
San Francisco Giants Pitcher, Accused of Abuse, Cut From Roster