Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It will be a long time before Reyes Moronta throws another pitch for the Giants.
The big righty is out 9-11 months following Wednesday’s labrum surgery in Los Angeles. He did not need to have his capsule repaired, which will be one fewer hurdle to clear, but “he’s a power arm,” Bruce Bochy said Thursday, meaning he expects Moronta will be closer to the 11-month mark.
That would add up to an early August comeback, so the Giants would be without the fireballer for the first five months of next season. As it stands now, virtually the entire bullpen is up for grabs next season, and Moronta will be, at best, a late-season addition to that corps.
“I’d say after the All-Star break. Probably looking at early part of August,” Bochy said of Moronta, who finished his season with a 2.56 ERA in 56 2/3 innings.
Moronta’s pal, Will Smith, is set to play catch Friday.
“Doing better, feeling better,” Bochy said of the closer with an ailing back, who hasn’t pitched since Friday.
If all goes well, “We could see him this weekend.”
Good news for Alex Dickerson, too.
“He’s turning the corner it looks like. He took 40 swings [Wednesday],” Bochy said of the left fielder, who said he feels better post-cortisone shot.
Dickerson will hit off the machine Friday, when he’ll see breaking balls and sliders, and then get on the field Saturday, Bochy said.
“[There’s a] chance you can see him pinch-hit or something this weekend,” Bochy added.
Bochy on 2,000 wins, which can be achieved at home if the Giants win-out this homestand, which ends Sunday:
“I’m being totally honest, it’s not something I’m thinking about. It really isn’t. It’s a number. There’s a lot of losses that have gone with that, over 2,000. So it’s just not something I put any thought into. I know it’s been mentioned, I couldn’t tell you what it means. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been doing it as long as I’ve been doing it. It’d be great to win those games here, [it would mean] we’re playing good baseball. … If it happens, it happens.”
Bochy says he doesn’t think much of the 2,000-win benchmark.
“It means that I've been fortunate enough to have been doing this as long as I've been doing it.” #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/YsxWzx0GiS
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 12, 2019
Pablo Sandoval is the Giants’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given to “the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
“That’s an honor, it really is,” Bochy said. “I always talk about the talent of these guys, but they’re good people. … It means a lot to him.”