SAN FRANCISCO — Outfielder Mitch Haniger isn't anticipated to make his Giants debut this homestand, supervisor Gabe Kapler stated earlier than the crew’s dwelling opener at Oracle Park on Friday.
Their highest-priced free-agent addition is extra prone to make his debut throughout the membership’s upcoming journey to Detroit and Miami beginning April 14, Kapler stated. Nonetheless, Haniger stated that he's nonetheless within the early phases of his rehab and would require a rehab project earlier than he’s prepared to hitch the big-league membership.
Haniger suffered an indirect harm in spring coaching and was positioned on the 10-day injured record to begin the season. He stated Friday that again tightness interrupted his progress and offered a minor setback.
“My again locked up for me proper across the time the crew left (spring coaching), so I needed to put issues on maintain for some time,” he stated. “However now I’m simply form of build up baseball actions and hopefully will begin ramping issues up right here.”
He stated he needed to get some remedy to let his again tightness settle down earlier than he may begin shifting once more and his physique has since responded nicely. He began to hit off a tee on Friday and hopes to extend his swing quantity within the coming days.
“Simply hit off the tee at this time so, fairly early within the phases, sadly,” he stated. “Hopefully it goes as shortly as attainable.”
He added, “That doesn’t occur in a single day. You’ve gotta go sluggish with that with a view to let your physique reply the correct approach.”
Haniger stated he’ll positively want a rehab project earlier than he will get again to the Giants, which may make it tough for him to return throughout the highway journey between April 14-19, however Kapler stays hopeful.
Haniger hit 39 dwelling runs two years in the past with the Mariners, earlier than an ankle harm restricted him to only 57 video games in 2022. He signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Giants this previous offseason and at present has the most important contract within the group.
Not that the Giants are lacking his energy for the time being; they entered Friday main the majors with 15 dwelling runs by their first six video games.
“They’ve been swinging the bat very well,” Haniger stated.
As well as, catcher Joey Bart could possibly be despatched on a rehab project within the subsequent couple of days.
“Joey is de facto trying good and searching good quick,” Kapler stated.
Bart suffered a “very small” mid-back pressure throughout batting observe earlier than the Giants’ second recreation of the season. The Giants have since been carrying two catchers in veteran Roberto Pérez and Rule 5 choose Blake Sabol, who has made two begins at catcher and 4 in left discipline.
The second total choose within the 2018 MLB Draft, Bart has a profession .645 OPS in 133 large league video games since 2020.
Employees author Evan Webeck contributed to this report.