SAN FRANCISCO -- The hits keep coming for the injury-depleted Giants.
Shortstop Willy Adames (left elbow sprain), outfielder Victor Bericoto (right knee bone bruise) and right-handed reliever JT Brubaker (bruised ribs) each landed on the injured list on Monday, forcing the Giants to make a flurry of roster moves before their series opener against the Reds at Oracle Park.
Infielder Nate Furman, outfielder Grant McCray, right-hander Anthony Molina, right-hander Ryan Walker and infielder Shay Whitcomb were recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to backfill spots on the 26-man roster.
San Francisco also optioned left-hander Matt Wilkinson to Triple-A Sacramento and placed rookie first baseman Bryce Eldridge on the bereavement list. Eldridge is expected to miss the Giants’ next three games while attending his late grandfather’s funeral.
The loss of Adames looms particularly large for the Giants, who were already without fellow infielders Matt Chapman (core muscle surgery), Casey Schmitt (left knee surgery) and Luis Arraez (traded to the Phillies).
Adames hurt his left elbow after sliding awkwardly into home plate in the first inning of Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. He initially stayed in the game, though he ended up being removed once the discomfort began to worsen in the top of the fifth.
An MRI exam on Monday revealed a moderate strain of Adames’ non-throwing elbow, but manager Tony Vitello said he was optimistic the 30-year-old veteran could return before the end of the season.
"There's a sprain in there, so he'll get IL’d," Vitello said. "He got it looked at this morning. I think you guys saw the replay of the catcher's knee jamming into that thing. I think initially it kind of scared him, and then as time went on, it's kind of a feeling of discomfort. He knew something was wrong. He didn't look himself that third at-bat. He's been swinging the bat really well, so it was wise of everyone to agree to get him out of the game.
"He'll need a little bit of time, and maybe that'll help his back as well. But it'd be nice to get him back before the season ends and get him back in that rhythm he was [in]. He looked really good at the plate."
Adames, who was scheduled to meet with team doctors on Monday night, has also been playing through a back issue for most of this season, but he looked like he was starting to turn a corner after returning from a four-game absence, going 7-for-19 (.368) with a 1.084 OPS over his past five games.
Still, it’s been an underwhelming season overall for Adames, who is batting .230 with a career-low .713 OPS and 21 home runs over 121 games and has endured some defensive struggles at shortstop this year.
"It's been frustrating because we didn't have as much success as we wanted to at the beginning," Vitello said. "I think the one thing everyone has done is stuck together, and part of that is [Adames’] leadership. He's helped do that. I think it's encouraging that he truly started to find himself at the plate. I think he's done some things with [infield coach Ron Washington], too, that I think can help him long-term in his career on how his arm feels and how he's making some plays, so there’s been progress.”
Christian Koss is expected to fill in at shortstop while Adames is out. Whitcomb, who was claimed off waivers from the Astros earlier this month, started at third base in his Giants debut on Monday.
Bericoto hurt his knee while attempting to make a catch against the left-field wall at Fenway on Sunday; he was also due to meet with team doctors to get a better sense of his prognosis on Monday. Brubaker, meanwhile, bruised his ribs when he made a diving catch on a bunt by Red Sox outfielder Eli White on Sunday.
Bericoto’s injury should create more opportunities in the outfield for McCray and rookie Turner Hill, who started in left field and batted cleanup against the Reds on Monday. With Brubaker on the shelf, the Giants are likely to get their first look at Molina, who was acquired from the Braves in exchange for right-hander Tyler Mahle. Molina, 24, logged a 3.00 ERA over nine innings in three appearances for Triple-A Sacramento and could be used as a starter or an opener, per Vitello.
Wilkinson was sent out after giving up four runs over 5 2/3 innings (6.35 ERA) in his first two Major League outings, but Vitello said the 23-year-old lefty could be an option to serve as the Giants’ 27th man for their upcoming doubleheader against the D-backs on Saturday.
“I love the competitiveness,” Vitello said. “There’s no question he’s going to need to develop a little bit, but the core of who he is as a competitor is exactly what we’re looking for.”