Flores (hamstring) to get MRI; Solano's return

May 19th, 2021

The Giants received good and bad news regarding their second basemen on Tuesday.

Following the Giants’ 4-2 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park, manager Gabe Kapler announced that second baseman will join the club in Cincinnati on Wednesday, and if all goes well, he will be activated off the injured list after missing 25 games with a right calf strain.

The Giants had planned to have Solano play nine innings in his final rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, but they decided to change course before the game, a move that proved timely after fellow infielder departed the club’s game in Cincinnati with right hamstring tightness in the second inning.

Flores, who has been filling in for Solano and Tommy La Stella at second base, worked a walk in his first plate appearance against Reds right-hander Luis Castillo, but he tweaked his hamstring while advancing from first to third base on a double by Alex Dickerson.

After limping into third, Flores was evaluated by third-base coach Ron Wotus and head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner. Following a brief chat, Flores exited the game and was replaced by pinch-runner Mauricio Dubón, who stayed in the game to play second.

Kapler said Flores was feeling better after the game and would undergo an MRI exam on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. Flores, 29, has started slowly and entered Tuesday batting .219 with a .645 OPS over 41 games, but he appeared to be turning a corner after going 3-for-4 with a home run in Monday’s 6-3 win over the Reds.

La Stella, who has been sidelined since May 2, was originally expected to miss four to six weeks with his own hamstring injury, but the Giants are planning to be without him for much longer. The Giants transferred the 32-year-old veteran to the 60-day injured list after claiming right-hander Trevor Hildenberger off waivers from the Mets on Tuesday, meaning La Stella won’t be eligible to return until July at the earliest.