Menez announced Friday via his personal Instagram feed that he's signing with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Menez began the season at Triple-A Iowa and posted a 2.14 ERA, 25:8 K:BB and 1.14 WHIP in 21 innings over 11 appearances (one start) with the minor-league club. He made a relief appearance for the Cubs in mid-May but will choose to head overseas after being outrighted to Triple-A earlier in June.
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Cubs' Conner Menez: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Menez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Menez was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Saturday, but he'll remain with the Triple-A club after clearing waivers. Over eight appearances (one start) in Iowa this season, he's posted a 2.08 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 17.1 innings.
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Cubs' Conner Menez: Loses spot on 40-man roster
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Menez was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Saturday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Menez was sent down May 17, and he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster as part of a move after Caleb Kilian's contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. Menez has made eight appearances (one start) in the minors and has posted a 2.08 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 17.1 innings. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, he'll likely remain in the organization.
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Cubs' Conner Menez: Shifts to minors
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Menez to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
Even though Menez hadn't been used out of the bullpen since Friday, the Cubs will still swap him off the 26-man active roster in favor of another lefty bullpen arm in Brandon Hughes, whose contract was selected from Iowa. Though his only appearance with Chicago was of the one-inning variety, Menez should move into a multi-inning role as he rejoins the Iowa bullpen.
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Cubs' Conner Menez: Contract selected by Cubs
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Menez's contract was selected by the Cubs on Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Menez threw 42.1 innings over the last three seasons for the Giants, posting a 4.04 ERA. He owns a strong 2.16 ERA in 16.2 frames for Triple-A Iowa this season.
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Cubs' Conner Menez: Selected by Cubs
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Menez was selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2021 Rule 5 draft Wednesday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.
Menez made eight appearances (one start) in the majors for the Giants last year and recorded a 3.86 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 14 innings. However, he wasn't added to San Francisco's 40-man roster during the offseason and will likely compete for a spot in the Cubs' major-league bullpen this spring.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Menez cleared waivers Saturday and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.
Menez, who posted a 3.86 ERA and 15:3 K:BB in 14 innings with the Giants earlier this season, went unclaimed on waivers. He'll remain with Sacramento, where he's been since being optioned June 20.
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Giants' Conner Menez: DFA'd Wednesday
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The Giants designated Menez for assignment Wednesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
The lefty loses his 40-man roster spot to make room for Tommy La Stella. Menez has been with Triple-A Sacramento since June 20.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Demoted after rough outing
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The Giants optioned Menez to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.
Menez will head back to the minors after he was tagged for five runs on six hits and two walks over two innings of relief in Saturday's 13-6 loss. He'll cede his spot in the Giants bullpen to John Brebbia (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Hit hard Saturday
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Menez gave up five runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout in two relief innings in Saturday's 13-6 loss to Philadelphia.
Menez opened his season with six scoreless outings spanning 11 innings. In his last two appearances, he's given up 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits and two walks across three innings. The 26-year-old has a 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB in 14 innings overall. He's likely to remain in a low-leverage role, although he's picked up a win and two holds this season.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Opens bullpen game
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Menez started Saturday's 2-1 win over Washington in the second game of a doubleheader, pitching two innings and allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout. He didn't factor into the decision.
Making his first career start, Menez pitched well in his customary two-inning role; all five of his appearances have lasted two frames. The move to opener was necessitated by the doubleheader but also shows manager Gabe Kapler's growing trust in the 26-year-old lefty.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Starting nightcap
Rotowire
Menez will be the first pitcher on the mound for the Giants in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals, Mark W. Sanchez of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.
Menez has been a starter throughout his minor-league career, but he's exclusively pitched out of the bullpen at the big-league level over the last two seasons. He's gone exactly two innings in each of his four appearances this season, so it's unlikely he pitches more than three in this one, especially as he'll be on just two days' rest after pitching Wednesday against the Rangers.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Impresses in hold
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Menez allowed one hit and struck out three in two shutout innings, earning a hold in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-innings loss to the Rangers.
Menez has now pitched two scoreless frames in each of his three appearances since being called up May 31. Further, he's fanned seven batters and walked none. Continued success may earn the left-hander more high-leverage opportunities going forward.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Logs win in relief
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Menez (1-0) earned the win Friday against the Cubs after pitching two scoreless innings in relief, giving up one hit and striking out two.
Menez silenced the Cubs when he was on the mound and looked dominant, as he tossed 25 of his 36 pitches for strikes en route to earning his first win of the season. The left-hander has logged just four innings this year across two appearances but is yet to allow a run.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Logs two scoreless innings
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Menez pitched two perfect innings and struck out two in Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Angels.
Menez hadn't pitched very efficiently in four appearances with Triple-A Sacramento, but his season debut for San Francisco went smoothly. The 26-year-old may not stay on the major-league roster for long, but he'll serve as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Called up by Giants
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Menez was recalled by the Giants on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Menez joined the major-league roster for a doubleheader in early May but failed to make an appearance. He'll now rejoin the Giants after Scott Kazmir (personal) was placed on the restricted list Monday. Menez has made four appearances (three starts) for Triple-A Sacramento this year and has posted a 6.48 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 8.1 innings.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Menez was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.
Menez was recalled to the big-league club for a doubleheader Tuesday against the Rockies. He didn't appear in a game but will likely serve as depth for the team's pitching staff throughout the season.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Joins San Francisco for twin bill
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The Giants recalled Menez from Triple-A Sacramento ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Rockies.
The lefty will be available for both ends of the twin bill as a long-relief option. He could be called upon to eat innings if either of the Giants' projected starters for Tuesday -- Aaron Sanchez and Alex Wood -- are knocked out of the game early.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Moves to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Giants optioned Menez to their minor-league camp Monday.
Menez delivered some strong peripherals (2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) in a limited sample of seven appearances out of the San Francisco bullpen last season, but an unsustainable .138 BABIP had a big hand in his success. Since Menez still has options remaining and his command and control could use some sharpening, the Giants will likely assign him to Triple-A Sacramento, where he should work as a starter.
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Giants' Conner Menez: Optioned off roster
Rotowire
Menez was optioned to the Giants' alternate training site Wednesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Menez has allowed just three earned runs in 11.1 innings for the Giants this season, giving him a 2.38 ERA to go with a 0.97 WHIP, though his 8:5 K:BB is rather unremarkable. He'll have a good shot to return to the roster in the near future when the Giants need another arm in the bullpen.
