Bader (hamstring) sidelined as Giants continue to consider outfield picture

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants were looking forward to getting their starting outfield back together after welcoming Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee and Harrison Bader back from the World Baseball Classic this week.

But the trio will have to wait a little longer to play alongside each other again.

The Giants announced Friday that Bader is day to day with left hamstring tightness, though manager Tony Vitello expressed optimism that the Gold Glove-winning center fielder will be ready for Opening Night on Wednesday.

“He's doing good, and he's moving along,” Vitello said. “He's getting to where we're in a comfort zone. I don't know for a fact, but I think if you asked him, he's not doing good, because he wants to do what he wants to do, and that's be on the field all the time. He's very respectful, and he'll hang out and watch extra innings when you pull him out of a game after two, three at-bats. But if you asked him if he wanted to go all nine every day, it's kind of the way his mind works, which I think is a blessing, especially when the regular season comes around.”

With Bader sidelined, the Giants started Luis Matos in center alongside Ramos and Lee in Friday’s night split-squad game against the Royals at Scottsdale Stadium. Matos is out of Minor League options, but his odds of cracking the Opening Day roster improved after San Francisco sent No. 1 prospect Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

The Giants are slated to face Yankees left-hander Max Fried on Wednesday, so it could make sense to carry Matos and fellow right-handed-hitting outfielder Jerar Encarnacion on the 26-man roster to start the season.

Matos and Encarnacion, who is also out of options, are the two most notable players vying for backup outfield spots, but the Giants are also continuing to evaluate Will Brennan, Drew Gilbert and non-roster invitee Jared Oliva.

Brennan and Gilbert both have the benefit of swinging left-handed, though Gilbert has been slowed down by a left shoulder impingement. Oliva hasn’t played in the Majors since 2021, but he’s emerged as an intriguing bench piece due to his ability to wreak havoc on the basepaths. He entered Friday with 13 stolen bases in 18 games, the most in the Cactus League.

Another non-roster outfielder, Victor Bericoto, also impressed this spring, but he ended up being reassigned to Minor League camp along with right-hander Gregory Santos and infielder Osleivis Basabe on Friday. Before he was sent out, Bericoto was recognized with the 2026 Barney Nugent Award, which is given to the player who most excels in his first big league camp with the Giants.

Bericoto batted .271 with a .791 OPS and 15 home runs in 110 games between the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento in 2025, but he turned heads after emerging as one of the Giants’ best hitters this spring. He hit .474 with a 1.264 OPS and a team-high three home runs over his first 19 Cactus League games, which could put him in line for a big league callup later this year.

Vitello said he thought Bericoto’s time in the Venezuelan Winter League helped set him up to hit the ground running this spring, as the 24-year-old also batted .340 with an .851 OPS over 31 games with Leones del Caracas over the offseason.

“I think what got him to a point where he was ready for this was probably winter ball,” Vitello said. “He's working hard. He doesn't want anyone to outwork him. He wants reps. I think we all know with experience, he's going to play at this level. I told him he’s going to play in the big leagues at some point. That’s a definite. I hope that I’m the one that gets to coach him.”

Santos was viewed as a strong contender to snag a spot in the Giants’ Opening Day bullpen due to his high-octane stuff, but he missed time after leaving camp to deal with a personal issue. He ended up appearing in only four Cactus League games, but his triple-digit heat and wipeout slider should give him a chance to contribute to the relief mix this season.

“I really think it's to trust his stuff,” Vitello said. “You can't say that about every guy. Other guys might need to implement a couple other things, but he really has stuff. If he just kind of tries to cram it down the opponent's throat, it's going to work out for him more times than not.”