Giants’ prospect Ryder Jones enjoyed his first big league cup of coffee this week, and he’ll have at least a few more days to attempt to cash in some of the meal money he’ll receive on his first Major League road trip.
Earlier this week, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said the team hoped third baseman Eduardo Nunez would return from the disabled list on Friday, but on Friday afternoon, Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Nunez will start a two-game rehab assignment with AA Richmond on Saturday before rejoining San Francisco in Detroit.
Jones has filled in at third base for Nunez in his absence, and started in left field in Wednesday’s series finale against Colorado, but Jones went 0-for-16 at the plate with three strikeouts in his first five Major League games. With Nunez planning a Friday return, Jones was the logical candidate for the Giants to option to AAA to clear a spot on the 25-man roster, but at least temporarily, Jones’ pursuit of his first Major League hit will continue.
Nunez has flourished as the Giants’ second most consistent position player this season –outside of catcher Buster Posey– and the team has missed his bat and speed during his stint on the disabled list. In 254 at-bats this season, Nunez has posted a .299 batting average with 17 doubles and added a team-high 17 stolen bases.
When infielder Conor Gillaspie went on the disabled list earlier this week, San Francisco called up 29-year-old South Korean infielder Jae-gyun Hwang, who started at third base on Wednesday and hit his first career Major League home run to lift the Giants to a 5-3 victory and a series sweep.
With Nunez set to come on Tuesday in Detroit, Giants’ management will likely decide between keeping Hwang or Jones on the 25-man roster, with Jones being the more likely candidate to be sent down.
Even with Hwang and Jones now at the big league level, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that when Nunez returns, he will be the team’s everyday third baseman.