Injuries & Moves: Snell (left adductor) returns from IL
LATEST NEWS
May 22: LHP Blake Snell activated from the 15-day injured list; RHP Nick Avila optioned to Double-A Richmond
Snell came off the IL on Wednesday to start against the Pirates. He had been out since April 19 due to a left adductor strain, but he looked dominant in his two rehab starts, tossing nine hitless innings with 17 strikeouts in two appearances between Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento. It's an exciting time for Snell beyond his return from injury, too, as he's expecting his first child in the coming days.
Avila was optioned to Double-A Richmond instead of Triple-A Sacramento to stay closer to the Giants during their East Coast road trip, in case he needed to be recalled.
May 21: C Patrick Bailey reinstated from the concussion injured list; C/OF Blake Sabol optioned to Double-A
Bailey was cleared to return to play after seeing Dr. Micky Collins, a concussion specialist, in Pittsburgh. Manager Bob Melvin said he would be available off the bench in Tuesday's series opener vs. the Pirates if he cleared protocol. At the time of his placement on the IL, Bailey had a .791 OPS with five doubles and three homers in in 26 games, and his defense will provide a big boost.
Sabol went 10-for-32 (.313) over 11 games -- starting eight as a catcher and two as a designated hitter -- but has not seen as much playing time as his 2023, when he played 110 games, including 43 in left field.
May 20: SS Tyler Fitzgerald optioned to Triple-A
Fitzgerald was optioned to create room on the active roster for outfielder Ryan McKenna, who was acquired by the Giants from the Orioles on Saturday. The 26-year-old infielder hit .269 with four doubles, one triple and one homer in 52 at-bats to begin his sophomore MLB campaign.
7-DAY/10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Keaton Winn (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Late May or June
Winn walked off the mound accompanied by team trainer Dave Groeschner after his velocity began to dip in the fifth inning of the Giants' 10-2 loss to the Dodgers on May 14. MRI results showed a mild strain, and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Winn could be back once his 15 days on the IL are up on May 30. Winn took a step toward that on May 20, when he threw off flat ground, and he's slated to throw off a mound later this week. (Last updated: May 21)
OF Michael Conforto (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Conforto singled in the fourth inning of the Giants' 5-1 win over the Reds on May 11, but he grabbed his right leg after rounding first base and was subsequently lifted for pinch-runner Mike Yastrzemski. An MRI exam revealed the hamstring strain, prompting the Giants to place him on the 10-day injured list the next day. Conforto, who leads the team with seven home runs, previously missed 19 games with a left hamstring strain down the stretch last year.
Conforto took on-field batting practice on May 21 in Pittsburgh, and he will ramp up his running progression over the coming days. Giants manager Bob Melvin said the team wants to see Conforto get through a full workout before discussing a potential return target date. (Last updated: May 21)
OF Austin Slater (concussion)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Slater suffered a concussion after slamming into the center-field wall while attempting to make a catch in the first inning of the Giants' May 10 loss to the Reds at Oracle Park. He continued to experience fogginess and blurry vision the following day, prompting the Giants to place him on the seven-day concussion list.
Slater "turned a corner" the weekend of May 18-20, per Giants manager Bob Melvin, and he began to increase all baseball activity on May 21. He'll need to clear concussion protocol before being activated, and Melvin said Slater may need rehab game action before returning. (Last updated: May 21)
SS Nick Ahmed (left wrist sprain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Ahmed remained in San Francisco during the Giants' road trip to Pittsburgh, and he has begun strengthening exercises while doing light baseball activity. He came out of the Giants' May 9 loss to the Rockies in the fourth inning after taking an awkward swing in his previous plate appearance. The 34-year-old veteran had been experiencing some discomfort since he took a 108 mph liner off his left wrist during a game against the Pirates on April 27. Ahmed underwent an MRI exam on May 10 that revealed the sprain. (Last updated: May 21)
60-DAY IL
CF Jung Hoo Lee (left shoulder dislocation)
Expected return: 2025
Lee hurt his shoulder after crashing into the center-field fence while attempting to catch Jeimer Candelario’s bases-clearing double off Kyle Harrison in the first inning of the Giants' 6-5 win over the Reds on May 12.
Lee immediately grabbed his left shoulder after going down and didn’t get up for several minutes, with fellow outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos quickly calling for team trainers to check on him. Lee eventually got up and departed the game, but he didn’t appear to be moving his left arm, which was held by head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner as he walked off the field.
The 25-year-old rookie landed on the 10-day IL the next day, with an MRI exam later revealing structural damage in his left shoulder. The Giants announced that Lee would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and transferred him to the 60-day IL on May 18. (Last updated: May 18)
RHP Alex Cobb (left hip surgery)
Expected return: June
Cobb was progressing well in his rehab from offseason hip surgery, but he hit another setback when he felt mild shoulder irritation before throwing a bullpen session on April 16. Cobb attempted to resume throwing after that, but he was shut down again after continuing to experience soreness in his shoulder.
"There hasn’t been progress," manager Bob Melvin said on May 18. "He’s still feeling it in his shoulder a little bit. We’re not really sure what’s causing it."
Cobb was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 20, so he won't be eligible to return until May 27. (Last updated: May 18)
C Tom Murphy (left knee sprain)
Expected return: July
Murphy felt a pop in his knee after going down to try to block a wild pitch in the second inning of the Giants' 14-3 loss to the Phillies on May 4 and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day. An MRI exam revealed a Grade 1-2 sprain for Murphy, who is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 15 to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow backstop Curt Casali.
Signed to a two-year, $8.25 million deal in December, Murphy hit .118 with one home run over his first 13 games with the Giants. (Last updated: May 15)
RHP Tristan Beck (upper right arm aneurysm)
Expected return: Second half
Beck, 27, felt his hand go cold after throwing some bullpen sessions early in camp, prompting the Giants to send him back to San Francisco to be evaluated by team doctors on Feb. 27. He ended up visiting a vascular specialist at Stanford, who helped determine that an aneurysm -- an abnormal bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel -- was the source of the numbness. Beck was transferred to the 60-day injured list on March 3 and underwent surgery at Stanford the next day to address the issue.
Beck was cleared to resume full baseball activity after a follow-up appointment with Dr. Jason Lee on May 1. He is playing light catch (60 feet) three times a week and is continuing his strength program. (Last updated: May 10)
LHP Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half
Ray has been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week in Arizona. The 2021 American League Cy Young winner has been pleased with his progress, but he's still expected to be out until the second half of the season. Ray was acquired from the Mariners in exchange for outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on Jan. 5. (Last updated: May 3)
RHP Austin Warren (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: June or July
Warren began his throwing progression on March 11 and has been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week in Arizona. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $755,000 contract with the Giants on Feb. 14 and could help boost the bullpen once he's healthy. Warren recorded a 3.55 ERA over 32 career appearances for the Angels from 2021-23. (Last updated: May 3)
LHP Ethan Small (moderate right oblique strain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Small is currently throwing out to 90 feet and continuing his rehab in Arizona. He was acquired from the Brewers over the offseason and was in the running for a bullpen spot before sustaining the injury. Small was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 28, so he won't be eligible to return until May 27 at the earliest. (Last updated: April 8)