SAN FRANCISCO -- A strained groin sustained Monday by right-hander Tyler Beede lengthened the list of highly inconvenient injuries endured by several Giants prospects.
Beede, 24, hurt himself as he was warming up at Tacoma, Wash., and had to be scratched from what would have been his 20th start of the season with the Giants' Triple-A Sacramento affiliate. Updates on Beede's condition were not immediately available.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy refused to speculate on whether Beede's injury would affect his chances of being promoted to the Majors in September or earlier. Given Beede's status as MLBPipeline.com's No. 3 Giants prospect, he probably doesn't have to worry about being overlooked.
However, Beede's injury was yet another source of frustration for the Giants, who'd like to salvage this losing season by undergoing thorough evaluations of their top prospects who could shorten their return trip to respectability. For example, the Giants aren't quite sure what to think about Beede, who has been erratic while compiling a 6-7 record and a 4.79 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Giants have lost valuable time as Sacramento infielder Christian Arroyo (No. 68 prospect overall, No. 1 in the organization), Class A Advanced San Jose outfielder Steven Duggar (No. 7 organization), San Francisco outfielder Austin Slater (No. 6 organization) and Sacramento infielder-outfielder Ryder Jones (No. 14 organization) have been sidelined by various injuries.
Additionally, hard-throwing Sacramento right-hander Joan Gregorio (No. 12 organization) was suspended for the rest of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Don't forget outfielders Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson, whose health and playing status have fluctuated.
"It would have been nice to have kept these guys healthy, not just for here but in Sacramento so they'd continue to develop," Bochy said. "I don't want to get into who, but for some of them, it's going to be important that we find somewhere they can play winter ball to make up for some missed playing time so we can have a better read and evaluation of them."
Bochy acknowledged that Arroyo (wrist, hand) and Slater (groin) had "a chance" of returning before the end of the season.
• Bochy said right-hander Johnny Cueto (blisters) could throw a light bullpen session Tuesday if he feels good after playing catch Monday.
• Bochy added right-hander Mark Melancon could throw to hitters by this weekend if he comes out of his Tuesday bullpen session feeling fit.