SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants reinstated right-handed pitcher Zack Littell from the IL on Wednesday afternoon and optioned outfielder Luis Gonzalez to make room on the lively roster.
The transfer will give the Giants an eight-man bullpen for the foreseeable future. With a extra full roster at this a part of the season, the Giants can afford to substitute a platoon possibility with extra pitching depth. Littell, 26, has been on the IL with a left indirect pressure and hasn’t pitched since July 8.
“Including a further pitcher to the combo, a reliever like Littell, provides us an eight-man ‘pen for the primary time shortly,” supervisor Gabe Kapler mentioned. “It feels protected going ahead and it felt like a very good time to get Luis going.”
Gonzalez was 1-for-his-last-30 courting again to Aug. 4 and can work on a number of issues, together with his base-running and his strategy on the plate with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Kapler mentioned Gonzales was coping with “a little bit defensiveness” on the plate with pitchers principally attacking him on the outer half of the zone as a result of they're comfy with him slapping the ball to the alternative area.
“You’re seeing a much less aggressive strategy to the alternative area,” Kapler mentioned. “Whereas he’s hitting the ball to the alternative area, he’s slapping it over there slightly than making an attempt to drive the baseball there and that’s restricted his means to then get the ball within the air to the pull aspect constantly with energy.”
With rosters increasing in September, Kapler mentioned the workforce expects to see Gonzalez again in San Francisco sooner or later this seasons.
The Giants additionally left-handed pitcher Andrew Vasquez off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies previous to Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Vasquez will report back to Triple-A Sacramento. The designated outfielder Steele Walker for project to make room on the 40-man roster.