Pence nearing 'big day' of regular batting practice

LOS ANGELES -- Barring setbacks, Giants right fielder Hunter Pence could resume taking regular batting practice in a week, manager Bruce Bochy said Monday.

Bochy admitted that timetable was the roughest of rough estimates. However, Pence has continued to increase the intensity of his baseball-related activity as he continues recovering from a fractured left forearm. Monday, Bochy said Pence hit soft-tossed baseballs (underhanded flips) and swung off a machine spitting tennis balls, besides playing catch.

"He's getting better and better," Bochy said. "The big day is going to be when he can take BP. We just don't know when that will be."

Bochy added that the ample contributions of outfielder Justin Maxwell, who entered Monday tied with Brandon Crawford for the team lead in home runs (three) and RBIs (nine), prevent the Giants from rushing Pence to return.