The beloved bullpen quartet who came to be known as the “Core 4” will be enshrined together this summer as the newest inductees to the San Francisco Giants’ Wall of Fame, the club announced Tuesday.
Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo — the core four members of the bullpen that won three World Series championships in five years — will have their plaques unveiled in a pregame ceremony Saturday, July 13, joining 56 other franchise icons who adorn the facade of Oracle Park.
,The first 20,000 fans in attendance on July 13 will receive a Mt. Rushmore-inspired figurine featuring “Core Four” members Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo. (Courtesy of San Francisco Giants)In a release the club described the group as “one of the greatest bullpens in playoff history who defined the Giants championship era, from their on-field performance to off field engagement.”
From 2010-14, the Giants bullpen logged 156 postseason innings, the second-most of any team during that span, while posting a 2.42 ERA and saving 16 games, more than any other club.
It was Romo who fanned Miguel Cabrera to clinch their second championship in 2012, while Affeldt got the win in relief in Game 7 against the Royals in 2014, when Madison Bumgarner memorably entered out of the bullpen to record the save.
Since retirement, Lopez has remained a familiar face with Giants fans as a color commentator and studio analyst on NBC Sports Bay Area. Romo re-signed with the club last spring to retire as a Giant, then signed on as an ambassador, joining the team last April on its trip to Mexico City.
The number of players from the World Series era honored on the Wall of Fame will grow to eight with the “Core Four” joining Matt Cain, Brian Wilson, Ryan Vogelsong and Hunter Pence.
The first 20,000 fans in attendance for the July 13 game against the Minnesota Twins will also receive a Mt. Rushmore-inspired figurine featuring the four relievers’ faces.
It’s not the only time the gang will get back together this summer, which marks the 10th anniversary of the club’s last World Series title.
The “Core 4” and many more should be in attendance August 10 to celebrate the 10-year reunion, where the first 20,000 fans to enter Oracle Park will receive a 2014 World Series Aloha Shirt.
Among the other highlights of the promotions for the upcoming season announced Tuesday: a LaMonte Wade Jr. “100th Splash Hit” Bobblehead (June 2), Logan Webb Tiki Mug (July 14), Jung Hoo Lee Bobblehead (July 28), “Buster Hugs” Funko POP! (September 1) and the ever-popular Alaska BOGO Flight Voucher (September 13).
Giants sign 20 international prospects
The window to sign international amateur players opened Monday with the Giants announcing agreements with 20 prospects.
The class is headlined by Yohendry Sanchez, a catcher, and Jhonny Level, a switch-hitting shortstop, both from Venezuela.
Sanchez, 17, was ranked the No. 23 international prospect by Baseball America, which described him as “physically mature” with “a chance to develop 20-plus home run pop.” Level, 16, checked in at No. 36 on Baseball America’s big board. He “has drawn a lot of praise from scouts for his ability to hit and stick at shortstop,” the publication wrote.
According to MLB.com, which also ranked them in its top 50, each prospect received a signing bonus of about $1 million. The Giants have $5.925 million in international bonus pool money to spend this cycle.