The Giants trimmed their spring roster to 33 players with seven cuts today. The one surprising name was reliever Heath Hembree, who was having a good spring and still considered a top relief prospect at 25.

Hembree was optioned to Triple-A Fresno, as were Erik Cordier and Jake Dunning. Reassigned to the minors were non roster pitchers Brett Bochy, and Adam Reifer, catcher Guillermo Quiroz and first baseman Mark Minicozzi. That leaves 33 players in camp.

Hembree must have been stunned to be called into manager Bruce Bochy’s office and told he was being optioned to Triple-A. He was in the majors last year and had a great spring, allowing one run in five innigns with two walks and five strikeouts.

Hembree just faced too much competition and management’s desire to carry a reliever or two who can throw multiple innings, reducing a spot for a hard-throwing short man.

“Some other guys are going to get the first shot here and they’re better suited for the club at this time,” Bochy said. “For his development it’s best to go down and pitch.”

The club also wants Hembree to refine his secondary pitches.

“I told him he did a nice job in September and he had a nice spring, but the way it was set up he wasn’t going to break camp with the club,” Bochy said. This is the best group of young pitchers we’ve had, and I told him that.”

Hembree’s departure seems to be good news for George Kontos and Dan Runzler, a righty and lefty with more experience who also are throwing well. It’s also telling that Derek Law, who has no big-league experience, survived what might be the final cuts before the team heads north for the Bay Bridge exhibitions.

The other relievers in competition include Jean Machi, Kameron Loe, J.C. Gutierrez and potential long men Yusmeiro Petit and David Huff.

Minicozzi was a nice story. His tale of perseverance, trying to get to the majors for the first time at 31 after nine years in the minors, independent ball and abroad, got him some national media attention. But he can play one position, first base, and the Giants are deep there.

Bochy had to cut his son for the second straight spring. Last year he did it over a steak dinner. Asked if the same thing went down this time, Bochy said, “I saw him for breakfast this morning. It was cheaper.”