SAN FRANCISCO–Earlier this season, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy called the team’s left field situation a “black hole.”
By the middle of June, 10 different players had started a game in left for San Francisco, and 12 different players had manned the position for at least an inning as the Giants struggled to receive any type of meaningful offensive production from their left fielders.
After a brutal start to the season, though, San Francisco received a boost of energy and offense from prospect Austin Slater, the franchise’s eighth round draft choice in 2014 who hit .290 in his first 100 Major League at-bats. Unfortunately for Slater, though, as he began to put his stamp on a starting role, he tore the adductor muscle in his right hip, which jeopardized the remainder of his season.
On Wednesday morning, though, Bochy indicated the Giants are now optimistic that Slater will return to the lineup for San Francisco in September, as the 24-year-old has begun partaking in a handful of baseball activities.
“He’s taking some swings now, he’s throwing,” Bochy said. “He won’t start running for another week to 10 days in that area. That’s why he’s staying back and going to Arizona to continue his rehab. He’s actually making a little faster progress than we thought. So I see him playing before the end of the season. Whereas if you were to ask me this question three weeks ago, I didn’t think he had a chance.”
Slater won’t travel with the Giants to Washington and Miami on their east coast road trip, and will instead head down to Arizona where he’ll continue his rehab program. Because the Giants’ affiliates conclude their season in the first week of September, it’s unlikely Slater will be able to participate in a rehab assignment, but Bochy said it’ll be close.”
“He won’t be ready to start rehabbing (in August), he’ll just be ready to start running at the end so I don’t think he’s going to be ready for that before the season is over,” Bochy said. “It’s going to be close, he might get a game or two, that’s how close it’s going to be.”
Slater’s return would crowd the Giants’ current outfield situation, which recently added Jarrett Parker back from the 60-day disabled list.
Parker is 9-for-21 since returning from a fractured right clavicle he suffered running into the outfield wall at AT&T Park back on April 15. Since he was activated on the Giants’ 25-man roster, he’s assumed the starting left field job that was held by Gorkys Hernandez in the month between the start of Slater’s disabled list stint and Parker’s return, and he’s provided the Giants with plenty of power.
Parker and Slater aren’t the only two options the Giants will have in left field should Slater return in the middle of September, as San Francisco hopes.
With Brandon Belt expected to come back from the seven-day concussion disabled list and Pablo Sandoval making a case that he deserves more at-bats at third base, 23-year-old Ryder Jones is the type of versatile asset who could figure into the Giants’ plans in the outfield come September.
With Belt on the disabled list, Jones has manned first base against right-handed pitchers, but with the way reserve catcher Nick Hundley is swinging the bat and the performances Buster Posey has strung together at first base of late, shifting Jones to the outfield on occasion may make sense.
“I think Jones will get most of the playing time at first base,” Bochy said Wednesday. “We’re going to give this guy some at-bats. Now there’s an option with Jones to put him in the outfield and give him some time there. But Buster, you’ll see him at first base more. It’s really a tough call because Hundley is playing well.”
The Giants, of course, will also play Denard Span and Hunter Pence a fair amount down the stretch, while Hernandez is hitting .317 over his last 18 games and has proven to be one of the more reliable defensive options San Francisco has at its disposal.
Another name to consider: Top prospect Chris Shaw, who isn’t on the team’s 40-man roster, but is playing well enough at AAA Sacramento that he’s worked his way into consideration for a September call-up. Though Shaw is a first baseman by trade, the Giants are hoping he’s able to handle corner outfield assignments to give the franchise more options in the future.
Ultimately, the Giants will be happy to have Slater back and healthy, but when he does return, there’s no question Bochy will have a difficult time ensuring players opportunities to receive consistent playing time.