Evan Longoria and Jakob Junis, both currently on the injured list, are each taking steps to rejoin the club. Whether they return before or after the July 18 All-Star break one week from Monday is the question.
Junis has been out since June 11 with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Longoria, the 36-year-old veteran, hit the 10-day IL on July 5 with a mild oblique strain.
Both the starter and third baseman, when healthy, have been among San Francisco’s most productive players this year. Junis’ 2.63 ERA — albeit in seven starts — leads all SF starters. Longoria has eight home runs in 44 games with an above-average 120 OPS+.
The Giants are already down Anthony DeSclafani, who’s scheduled to undergo season-ending ankle surgery on Tuesday, in the rotation. Their projected starter for this Wednesday’s series finale against Arizona is TBD.
Junis is slated to throw three innings, or 45 pitches, in a rehab start in Arizona on Monday. If Junis does in fact return before the All-Star break, it’s more likely he does so out of necessity as a bullpen arm.
“I think if Junis joins our roster before the break, it’ll be because our bullpen needs something to give us a few innings to get through games,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Monday. “Not like mop-up innings, but like important innings. That’s one way to think about it. The other way to think about it is if we spend more time getting him built up, when we come out of the break, he might be built up to five innings for us and could take down a rotation spot for us. Those are just possibilities. I don’t want to set anything in stone.”
Longoria swung in the cage for the first time since his oblique injury on Sunday and came out of it feeling good. At Oracle Park, he went through all normal pregame activities, including fielding grounders.
The three-time All-Star told KNBR that there’s no official plan yet, but he’s hoping to come off the injured list when eligible — on July 16.
But that would just give Longoria two games before the three-day break. It’s possible the Giants keep him on the IL to extend his vacation.
Against Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly in the series opener, rookie David Villar is starting in Longoria’s place at the hot corner. Wilmer Flores is penciled in at second, and they’re joined by catcher Joey Bart as the only right-handed bats in San Francisco’s starting lineup.
- José Álvarez said he’s still awaiting MRI results on his left elbow. He was recommended rest and rehabilitation, according to the club’s official medical reports. Álvarez hasn’t dealt with major elbow injuries in the past — just a minor flare up when he was a minor leaguer around the 2013-14 range, he said.
- Isan Díaz is with the team in a taxi squad capacity. He said he can bring energy and positive vibes to the clubhouse. The infielder can play second, third and shortstop and has socked 16 home runs at the Triple-A level this season. Kapler noted a recent two-strike bunt he laid down for the River Cats — “Which made him way cooler than I thought he was going to be,” the manager said. “Now he’s like, super, super cool. He was already cool, this just makes him a little cooler.”
- Pete Alonso, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Albert Pujols have each either announced or have been reported to be participating in next week’s Home Run Derby. Joc Pederson, the Giants’ leader in homers on the year with 17, competed in the event in 2015 and 2019.