Even the most dedicated followers of the San Francisco Giants’ farm system might not be familiar with Shane Rademacher — but that could soon change. The 24-year-old right-hander, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, was recently named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Month for April after a dominant stretch with High-A Eugene.
In four April appearances (three starts, one in relief), Rademacher posted a minuscule 0.47 ERA over 19 innings, striking out 13 and issuing just one walk. His only earned run came in his season debut — a relief outing on April 6. Since then, he’s been nearly untouchable, allowing only seven total hits across his outings, including five no-hit innings against Vancouver on April 19.
His strong run has carried into May, where he opened the month with a five-inning, 10-strikeout performance. He didn’t get the win, but he clearly made a statement.
So far in 2024, Rademacher owns a 2-0 record with a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings, with 23 strikeouts and just one walk. Opposing hitters are batting just .134 against him, and his WHIP is a remarkable 0.50. With numbers like that, a promotion to Double-A Richmond could be on the horizon.
Rademacher’s path has been anything but conventional. A product of Division II Chowan University in North Carolina, he had a rough collegiate career with a 6.53 ERA and an 8-25 record. Despite the lackluster numbers, the Giants saw potential, particularly in his strikeout-to-walk ratio. He got a brief look in rookie ball in 2023 and followed it with a solid campaign at Class-A San Jose, where he went 7-2 with a 4.89 ERA in 26 games (seven starts).
Now, Rademacher is quickly emerging as one of the more intriguing under-the-radar prospects in the system. If his current trend continues, he could be knocking on the big-league door by 2026 — or sooner.