SF Giants reinstate Bader from injured list, recall Beck
LOS ANGELES - The Giants welcomed their Opening Day center fielder back to the lineup ahead of their four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, reinstating outfielder Harrison Bader from the 10-day injured list.
“It’s been a weird start, so I’m excited to have a fresh slate, if you will, and go out there and help the team win,” Bader said.
Along with Bader, San Francisco also recalled right-hander Tristan Beck from Triple-A Sacramento as a fresh arm following Sunday’s 12-inning marathon, one that required manager Tony Vitello to use six of his eight relievers.
To make room for Bader and Beck, the Giants optioned catcher Logan Porter and right-hander Dylan Smith.
“I feel good,” said Bader, who signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants this past offseason. “The biggest thing is just being able to move how you want to move in the box. I feel good taking a lot of time to get everything right. I’m excited to go out there and help this team win.”
Bader sustained a left hamstring ailment late into spring training and missed valuable at-bats leading into the season, but still made San Francisco’s Opening Day. The 31-year-old clearly wasn’t right at the plate, hitting .115/.145/.192 over 15 games before landing on the 10-day injured list on April 15.
When the Giants placed him on the injured list, Bader stated he wanted to go on a rehab assignment and get at-bats in Triple-A “just for my own sanity.” Bader had encouraging at-bats with Sacramento, hitting two homers and posting a .947 OPS over six games with the River Cats.
“(The injury) was the sole reason why I couldn’t perform,” Bader, who’s batting eighth and playing center field on Monday, said. “I’m excited to be back.”
With Bader returning, outfielder Drew Gilbert will transition to a bench role. Gilbert, who played for Vitello at Tennessee, got the majority of starts in center field during Bader’s absence, hitting .231 with two home runs and a .634 OPS over 22 games.
Vitello said the Giants could use Gilbert as a pinch-runner, pinch-hitter or defensive replacement at the corner outfield positions on days when he doesn’t start.
“I think, obviously, Bader’s struggled to find himself early in the year because he wasn’t himself physically - literally,” Vitello said. “Drew has done well for us in some bright spots, but I think also is a very small number of games he’s played in his career. So, still looking to kind of find out what we got with both those guys, I don’t mind saying that.”
Beck, 29, posted a 5.40 ERA with 18 strikeouts to seven walks over 16 2/3 innings with Sacramento.
The Giants needed a fresh arm in the bullpen after using Keaton Winn, Sam Hentges, Caleb Kilian, Joel Peguero, Smith and Ryan Borucki on Sunday. Borucki (who also pitched on Saturday) and Peguero are likely unavailable on Monday after throwing 24 and 30 pitches, respectively.
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