SAN FRANCISCO -- Outfielder Harrison Bader, still sidelined with left hamstring tightness, participated in pregame drills ahead of the Giants’ exhibition game with Sultanes de Monterrey on Monday at Oracle Park.
Bader remained out of the lineup, though he took batting practice, blasting several balls into the left-field bleachers.
“He’s doing everything possible today pregame,” said manager Tony Vitello. “I’m going off reports from the medical staff, but I’m also going off conversations with him, and he feels really good where he’s at. He’s literally out there hugging his teammates and doing everything he needs to do. So unless there’s some sort of setback from today, I’d assume next day would be even more, and the next day would be even more.”
Asked if he thought Bader would be able to play on Opening Day Wednesday, Vitello said, “I do, but you know, I could be wrong and also it’s Day One. … I know as well as anybody at this point that you do want to play the long game.”
Bader was signed by the Giants as a free agent this winter and played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, going 3-for-14 with a home run and two RBIs. He also appeared in nine Spring Training games with San Francisco before the injury, hitting .316/.409/.579.
Borucki’s new digs
Veteran left-hander Ryan Borucki was signed to a one-year Major League deal by the Giants on Saturday, adding depth to a bullpen with some questions remaining as Opening Day draws near.
Borucki is eager to take on whatever’s asked of him with his new team.
“In my career, I've been predominantly facing a lot of lefties,” Borucki said. “That's kind of what I've always done my whole career. Good thing for me is that our pitching coach [Justin Meccage], he was my bullpen coach for two years in Pittsburgh, so he's very familiar with how my stuff plays. So we'll see, just roll with it.”
Whatever happens, Borucki knows what to expect out there -- especially in an NL West filled with imposing left-handed hitters.
“I think it's just one of those things where when you're a lefty specialist, you know you're always going to be ready to go,” Borucki said. “You face certain teams that are lefty dominant, you always know you're going to have to be ready for all of those games.”
Opening Day around the corner
Wednesday’s Opening Day against the Yankees will mark Vitello’s first as manager of the Giants, and he’s ready to go.
“I'm excited to get to Wednesday,” Vitello said. “You guys have already brought it up, [there are] plenty of tough decisions, a lot of travel, a lot of going back and forth, a lot of different things to handle. But when the game starts, it's just the game.
“So I'm well aware of the ups and downs in this game, and there will be some on Wednesday and decisions to be made -- frustrations, happiness, all that will come, but it's also why everybody is here. … There'll be nerves for guys and things like that, but I think I'm as anxious as anybody for that to arrive.”
Luis Arraez, leadoff hitter? Or …
Luis Arraez hit leadoff in Monday’s exhibition against Sultanes de Monterrey.
And though Arraez has hit leadoff in the majority of games in his seven-year career, he only did so 11 times in 2025 with the Padres, instead primarily hitting second (130 games). In his career, he’s led off 417 times, but has hit in all nine spots in the lineup at one point or another.
Might Arraez appear in both the leadoff spot and somewhere closer to the middle of the lineup in 2026?
“Yeah, 100 percent,” said Vitello. “I think a lot of our guys, my desire, and maybe even their desire too, would be to end up in a spot where they're set -- or maybe at the very least depending on who the starter is, it’s this spot or the one right next to it.
“I haven’t asked him, but I'm willing to bet he's the one guy, ‘put me wherever you want,’ and he's going to have the same mindset, the same level of confidence. I think he's a weapon on offense, so to be able to use him in a couple different ways would apply to that situation.
“So 100 percent, I think he'll be in the leadoff spot at some point this year, and somewhere in the middle.”