SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The San Francisco Giants haven’t officially set their Opening Day roster, but the man in charge of making those decisions provided a pretty comprehensive outline of their plans.

Speaking with Dave Flemming and Shawn Estes on the NBC Sports Bay Area telecast during Thursday evening’s game against the Guardians, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi indicated that Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol, speedy outfielder Bryce Johnson and tall right-hander Sean Hjelle had the inside track to the final spots on their 26-man roster.

While the three players have been among the most impressive in camp, the Giants only have open spots on the roster because of injuries. With Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger expected to start the season on the injured list, that opened two needs in the outfield, which can be filled by Johnson and Sabol.

If San Francisco carries 13 position players and 13 pitchers, that left one spot on the pitching staff not yet spoken for. Hjelle, who is touching 96 mph with his fastball, has been the recipient of frequent praise from team brass this spring and, it seems, that may pay off in a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

“Sean’s done a great job for us and has a really good chance of breaking with our club,” Zaidi said.

Farhan Zaidi has been impressed with Sean Hjelle, who has a "really good chance" of making the Opening Day roster pic.twitter.com/53ikeW8RNp

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) March 24, 2023

In addition to the added velocity, Hjelle has shown an increased ability to command his pitches, too. He’s struck out 18 batters and walked only two in 13 innings of work this spring, while limiting opponents to three earned runs, a 1.80 ERA. Only Alex Cobb has recorded more strikeouts, and only Ross Stripling, Anthony DeSclafani and Jakob Junis have better K:BB ratios.

“I think if there’s a roster need and roster fit for Sean Hjelle, given the camp he’s had, we should think about how he helps the major league roster right now,” manager Gabe Kapler said Thursday morning. “That could be in a bullpen role. I think a lot of this is going to boil down to are we 14-12 or 13-13.”

Both Johnson and Sabol entered spring as long shots to make the roster, even with the impressive camps both have turned in.

Johnson, 27, was outrighted off the 40-man roster this offseason, despite getting a late-season call-up in 2022. Sabol, a Rule 5 pick, was going to have to prove that he could serve as one of two catchers on the roster.

But, with injuries to Slater and Haniger, Johnson gives them a capable replacement in center field (and might be the best outfield defender on their roster) and Sabol can cash in on his red-hot swinging this spring with a more comfortable spot in left field and as a third catcher.

Sabol, whose 1.173 OPS is the highest of any player with enough at-bats to qualify, has “made a really positive impression in camp, on and off the field,” Zaidi said. While Johnson, whose 12 stolen bases this spring are most in the majors, has “been really exciting to see.”

“Nothing was guaranteed of him, but he’s really taken to hear the idea of forcing the issue on the bases with the front office and putting himself in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot. … Obviously nothing’s official, but he’s right there.”

One player who won’t break camp with the big-league squad but could join them in short order: infield prospect Casey Schmitt.

Schmitt, who has also opened eyes this spring with his bat and his glove, “looks really close,” Zaidi said. Schmitt, 24, will open the season at Triple-A Sacramento, where he will get time at both third and shortstop.

“The one thing we’d still like to see him work on is when you face those quality right-handed pitchers at the big league level, you see those breaking balls … I think getting acclimated to that is really the last step for him,” Zaidi said. “But we’ve seen a lot of positives, obviously.”

"He looks really close."

Farhan Zaidi on Casey Schmitt's development pic.twitter.com/fEKPAm8MGZ

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) March 24, 2023

Opening Day roster projection

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Starting pitchers (6)

Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea, Anthony DeSclafani

Relief pitchers (7)

Camilo Doval, Taylor Rogers, Taylor Rogers, John Brebbia, Scott Alexander, Jakob Junis, Sean Hjelle

Catchers (3)

Roberto Pérez, Joey Bart, Blake Sabol

Infielders (6)

LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada, Brandon Crawford, David Villar, Wilmer Flores, J.D. Davis

Outfielders (4)

Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski, Joc Pederson, Bryce Johnson