CHICAGO -- The Giants welcomed a positive development amid their daily delivery of injury-related news on Saturday, when the ballclub and second baseman Joe Panik announced that he will start a Minor League injury rehabilitation assignment on Monday with Triple-A Sacramento.
Panik, 27, sprained his left thumb in a low-impact collision with the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig on April 27. At that time, the Giants said that Panik could miss 6-8 weeks. Assuming that Panik avoids further setbacks, the 2015 National League All-Star could rejoin the club by the end of next week, shaving approximately two weeks from his recovery timetable.
Panik, who said that he's capable of performing all baseball-related activities, plans to leave the Giants after Sunday's pregame batting practice to report to Sacramento.
Panik, who recorded a .267/.323/.389 slash line with three home runs and five RBIs when he was sidelined, said that the statistics he accumulates at Triple-A won't necessarily reflect whether he has regained his timing.
"It's not always about what you're hitting," Panik said. "It's about how you're feeling."
Other injury updates
• Right hip soreness kept Giants catcher Buster Posey out of Saturday's lineup. Posey was available to appear as a pinch-hitter or defensive replacement. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that the injury isn't serious and rated Posey's playing status as day to day.
• Right-hander Johnny Cueto (elbow inflammation) will begin playing catch on flat ground on Monday, Bochy said.
• Infielder Alen Hanson (left hamstring strain) is expected to play in an extended spring game on Monday before joining Class A Advanced San Jose for a rehab assignment on Wednesday.