Randy Rodríguez is set for the next stage of his comeback, and the SF Giants are sending him to the Arizona Fall League in 2026 as the headliner of their Scottsdale Scorpions contingent.
Rodríguez, the 2025 NL All-Star, will use the AFL as a rehab assignment after missing the entire 2026 season following Tommy John surgery at the end of last September. The usual recovery window runs from 12 to 18 months, though relievers often make it back closer to the 12-month side of that timeline. In other words, Rodríguez moving this quickly is a strong sign that his recovery is trending well.
The AFL season lasts just over a month, so Rodríguez is only expected to make a handful of appearances at most. Even so, his return matters for a Giants bullpen that has struggled badly in 2026. He won’t solve everything on his own, but he’s clearly part of the answer.
The Giants are also sending Kaeden Kent, Dakota Jordan, Miguel Mendez, Alexander Fuentes, Drake George, Darien Smith, and Dalton Wentz to play for Scottsdale. That kind of assignment often goes to players who lost development time during the regular season and need more reps before the year is over.
That fits several names on this list. George missed the 2026 season after Tommy John surgery.
Kent lost time after the trade that brought him to San Francisco. Jordan spent time on the injured list after moving up to Double-A.
The more unusual part of the group is that the Giants are sending two players on the 40-man roster: Rodríguez and Mendez. Teams usually reserve AFL spots for prospects, but there are exceptions. The article points to Kyle Schwarber getting a few AFL games in 2016 before returning to the Chicago Cubs for the World Series as one notable example.
Mendez came to the Giants in the deal that sent Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, with middle infield prospect Joniel Hernandez also included in the trade. Like Kent, Mendez was hurt when the Giants acquired him, and he still has not pitched above Double-A. That makes the AFL a chance for the Giants to get creative and give a 40-man pitcher more game action.
Wentz is another name worth watching. Drafted in the 16th round this year, he received a sizable signing bonus and turned in a .797 OPS with one home run and 10 RBI in 57 plate appearances for the Eugene Emeralds.
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