Giants reinforce bench with two callups

SAN FRANCISCO -- Hampered by an injury-thinned roster, the Giants purchased the contracts of outfielder Mac Williamson and catcher Trevor Brown from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday to provide depth for the remainder of the season.

The moves officially ended the season for second baseman Joe Panik, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list to help create 40-man roster room for the additions. The premature conclusion of Panik's All-Star campaign had been feared once he was diagnosed with low back inflammation in early August. Panik, 24, batted .312 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 100 games.

"It just wasn't worth the risk to get him back and have another setback," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

The Giants also recalled outfielder Daniel Carbonell from Double-A Richmond and designated him for assignment to clear another roster spot.

General manager Bobby Evans pointed out that the ongoing absences of Panik, right fielder Hunter Pence (left oblique), shortstop Brandon Crawford (left calf, left oblique) and outfielder Gregor Blanco (concussion) limited Bochy's personnel flexibility -- which shouldn't be an issue in September, since active rosters can expand from 25 to 40.

"We were expecting that guys would come back," Evans said, referring to Pence and the rest while explaining why Williamson and Brown weren't summoned earlier. Eventually, Evans said, "It became evident that we needed to get reinforcements."

Williamson gives the Giants an additional right-handed bat. Brown becomes the second reserve catcher and will allow Bochy more freedom to play Buster Posey at first base.

Video: CLE@SF: Williamson pads lead with solo homer to right

Williamson, 25, was performing baseball-related activities to stay sharp for his participation in the Arizona Fall League beginning next month. However, when the Giants called to tell him to report to San Francisco, he was fishing in Emerald Isle, N.C., near his offseason home of Winston-Salem. Noted Bochy, an enthusiastic angler, "He wasn't just fishing. He was 55 miles offshore."

Rated the 13th-best prospect in the Giants system by MLB.com, Williamson played just 23 games in 2014 before he underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in late April. Williamson rebounded this year by hitting a combined .275 with 13 home runs and 73 RBIs in 123 games at Richmond and Sacramento.

A converted second baseman, Brown batted .261 (74-for-283) with two homers and 27 RBIs in 82 games for Sacramento.