SAN JOSE– After a nightmarish start to the 2017 season, the San Francisco Giants will exit the All-Star break with some good news.
Madison Bumgarner is coming back.
At least that seems to be the plan for the Giants’ ace following his start for the Class-A San Jose Giants, in which he threw six innings and allowed one unearned run.
“I’m planning on it,” Bumgarner said regarding his hopes to return this week when the Giants travel to San Diego. “Just as long as everything goes the way it’s supposed to go the next four days.”
Bumgarner –out since April due to a dirt bike accident– looked smooth and under control in his second start for San Jose since he was a teenager in 2009.
It was an improved outing for Bumgarner Monday when compared to his July 5 start in San Jose, in which he allowed nine runs in four innings of work. Although it was a not the result Bumgarner was sure to be pleased with, it is a bit misleading, as he said he threw mainly fastballs. Going up against the Modesto Nuts – the Seattle Mariners Single-A affiliate – Bumgarner relied on his off-speed repertoire much more heavily.
“Just starting to lock in and throw pitches,” Bumgarner said after Monday’s outing. “It felt good to do that.”
In his six innings of work, Bumgarner struck out eight batters. His fastball topped out at 90 MPH and his change-up and cutter had many batters on their front foot.
“I didn’t throw a lot [of off-speed pitches] last time,” Bumgarner said. “On the side, we’ve been working on off-speed stuff. I incorporated that a little bit more today.”
Bumgarner allowed just two hits on the night. He retired the first six batters he faced, with his strongest inning coming in the fourth, in which the three time World Series champion struck out the side. Before the start, the Giants said Bumgarner would either throw 90 pitches or 6 innings. It ended up being the latter for Bumgarner, who threw 86 pitches and 58 strikes against 21 batters.
Barring any issues with his health, expect Bumgarner to be back with the big league team in San Diego when the giants take on the Padres following the All-Star break. Reports have indicated the Giants hope to have Bumgarner on the mound on July 15 in the second game of the series.
“Everything went as scheduled,” Bumgarner said of his rehab process. “The injury is not really something that happens a lot in baseball. [The Giants staff] did really good work.”
Bumgarner will provide a much-needed shot of energy into a team that sits at 34-56, the second worst record in the league, at the break. It’s a sharp contrast to last season, when the Giants sat at 57-33, the best record in the league.
Bumgarner threw the final game prior to the All-Star break last season, a complete game shutout against the Diamondbacks.
One calendar year later, Bumgarner is rehabbing from the first disabled list stint of his career, and the Giants have clearly missed his presence.
“It sucks,” Bumgarner said of the rehab process. “I put myself in this spot. Trying to make the best of it.”
Whether the Giants are winning or losing, and they’ve done quite a bit of losing, not being able to contribute has been difficult for the 27-year-old.
Bumgarner said his current plan calls for him to throw a bullpen at AT&T Park on Wednesday.
The Giants’ playoff hopes are over, but for Bumgarner, it’s time to get back on the saddle and get to work.