SAN FRANCISCO -- Rookie Austin Slater, who put together impressive at-bats in limited playing time, recently underwent a core muscle surgery in Philadelphia, Giants manager Bruce Bochy revealed Friday.
Slater will return to the Bay Area on Saturday.
Bochy said Slater's doing well overall and is looking at a six- to eight-week recovery time for the injury, which is also known as a sports hernia. Dr. William C. Meyers, an expert in core muscle injuries based in Philadelphia, performed the procedure.
Before the operation, the Giants expected the outfielder would travel to the Dominican Republic for the first half of winter ball. Depending on his recovery, that window of opportunity may shift.
Slater, 24, the organization's No. 6-ranked prospect by MLBPipeline.com, missed time this season with a pair of injuries. He was sidelined 52 games with a strained right groin. He returned to the Majors on Sept. 6 after a rapid recovery, but played just five games.
Slater finished the 2017 season with a .282/.339/.402 slash line in 34 games.
• Bochy said Player Page for Matt Cain, set to make his final Major League start Saturday, will be limited to around 60 to 70 pitches. After 13 years in the Giants' organization, the right-hander is retiring.
"We're going to have to keep an eye on him," Bochy said. "We'll see how the innings go."
• MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported Thursday that Giants third-base coach Phil Nevin is a strong candidate for the Detroit Tigers' managerial opening.
Bochy didn't comment on the report, but said Nevin is "somebody who's been on a lot of people's radars as far as managing. I'm sure teams [that are] looking for a manager, he's going to be considered."