Scott Kazmir was one of the biggest surprises in baseball last year. He had made his way to the San Francisco Giants nearly five years after his last major league appearance, battling back from injuries once again. Even if he is not the pitcher he once was, Kazmir has been an impressive story of perseverance and determination throughout his career.
Even though he battled injuries again last year, Kazmir is not done. He is hoping to pitch again in 2022, ideally returning to the Giants.
Scott Kazmir tells me his hamstring has completely healed and he is planning to continue playing next year, given the opportunity. He’d welcome a return to the Giants were it to work out.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) October 27, 2021
Scott Kazmir hoping to return to San Francisco Giants
Kazmir made a total of 18 appearances between Triple-A and the majors. He performed relatively well in Sacramento, posting a respectable 4.61 ERA and a 1.196 WHiP in his 52.2 innings, striking out 48 batters with just 18 walks. Given the offensively charged numbers in Triple-A, Kazmir pitched relatively well.
He was unable to find that same success at the major league level. Kazmir had a 6.35 ERA and a 1.853 WHiP over his 11.1 innings in his five appearances, striking out ten batters with six walks. He also allowed three homers as he simply could not get anyone out.
Despite those struggles, it would not be a surprise to see Kazmir land a minor league deal someplace. His relatively solid showing at Triple-A gives hope that he could end up being a respectable depth piece, especially as he gets used to pitching again. Likewise, his major league experience, as well as his experience when it comes to bouncing back through injuries and time on the comeback trail, would make him a perfect mentor to the younger arms at that level.
But it comes down to whether or not another team would be willing to take a chance on Kazmir. He will be 38 years old at the start of the 2022 season, and given his injury history, he is not exactly a given. But there is no accounting for determination. With that in mind, it is impossible to count Kazmir out.
Scott Kazmir is hoping to pitch again in 2022. The San Francisco Giants pitcher may able able to find that minor league deal he is hoping for.