SAN FRANCISCO — Brandon Crawford ran sprints alongside the lower of the outfield grass Monday afternoon. He made his manner on to the infield filth and took floor balls. Lastly, he stepped into the batting cage and took a few of his left-handed hacks.
All of Crawford’s pregame work was completed underneath the watchful eye of Dave Groeschner, the highest-ranking member of the Giants’ coaching workers.
After being recognized with a gentle proper calf pressure, Crawford was optimistic he would solely miss the minimal period of time. Going by means of a full complement of pregame drills Monday, he gave the impression to be on observe to return Thursday — the primary day he's eligible — for the beginning of their four-game collection in Arizona. The Giants don’t anticipate he would require a rehab stint.
“Primarily simply ensuring that his calf is nice to go and that he’s assured,” supervisor Gabe Kapler stated. “That’s the primary factor. We would like him to come back again when he feels assured and athletic.”
Crawford, 36, has already been restricted to 22 of the Giants’ 34 video games this season as he has handled numerous illnesses along with his left knee, his proper forearm, his ribs and, most lately, his proper calf. His .196 batting common and .596 OPS are the bottom amongst Giants regulars in addition to David Villar (.145, .567), who might need already been despatched to Triple-A if the Giants weren’t depending on his means to play second base with Thairo Estrada filling in at shortstop for Crawford.
In the meantime, left-hander Alex Wooden (hamstring) was in good spirits within the Giants’ clubhouse Monday, again from a profitable rehab outing at Triple-A Sacramento.
Wooden threw 46 pitches (31 strikes) whereas allowed two runs (one earned) over 3⅔ innings. He allowed six hits however didn’t stroll a batter.
It’s doable that Wooden might slot again in to the Giants’ rotation Friday in Arizona. Ross Stripling has crammed his spot the final three turns by means of the rotation however continued to be haunted by residence runs, permitting two extra Sunday, and has a 6.66 ERA. Nonetheless, Kapler wasn’t able to make any proclamations Monday.
“I do know Alex feels prepared,” Kapler stated.
Mike Yastrzemski picked up his bat and walked towards the batting cage Monday afternoon. Nonetheless within the early levels of his restoration from a hamstring pressure, Yastrzemski didn’t take any swings — he started his throwing development on Monday — however as a substitute perched himself behind the netting.
As he watched his teammates assault batting follow pitches, Yastrzemski wore a strip of facial hair on his higher lip and a black T-shirt with a optimistic message. On the entrance, it learn: “Care on your homies,” and on the again: “It’s OK to not be OK.”
Might is Psychological Well being Consciousness Month, and this week, the Giants are doing their half, with Yastrzemski and Austin Slater rising mustaches to boost cash for charity and officers from the group teaming up with native leaders for a pregame panel dialogue earlier than Tuesday’s recreation.
Yastrzemski and Slater are among the many gamers taking part in Mustache Might. Yastrzemski is asking for donations to Coronary heart & Armor, which is concentrated on veterans’ psychological well being, whereas Slater is elevating funds for one more psychological health-focus group, Carry Change To Thoughts.
“I really like that,” Kapler stated. “Yaz has put in a ton of time and power and energy into Mustache Might, supporting Coronary heart & Armor. I respect the truth that Yaz, Slater and others have constructed this platform and that they’re utilizing the platform to do good work locally. I actually admire it.”
Kapler stated he obtained espresso Monday with Drew Robinson, the Giants’ psychological well being advocate who will lead a panel Tuesday together with Dr. Shana Alexander, the Giants’ director of psychological well being and wellness, and a gaggle of group leaders, together with First Companion Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Robinson, a former minor leaguer, tried to take his personal life in 2020 and has since used his story to advocate for psychological well being consciousness.
A rising variety of gamers across the majors have been positioned on the injured listing this season for psychological well being causes, one thing Kapler known as a optimistic improvement as they work to “finish the stigma for athletes.”
“I feel it’s an important factor for the game after we can enable gamers to view psychological well being points in the identical manner we view bodily well being points,” Kapler stated. “Generally they want greater than a day or two. Generally they want two or three weeks. I simply assume we have to open that door as an trade. I feel we’re doing a very good job taking steps.”