Shortstop Brandon Crawford went through a technically flawless round of fungo grounders before taking batting practice at Oracle Park on Thursday.
The Giants’ cornerstone shortstop has been sidelined since July 16 with a right knee injury. Though he’s already passed the minimum amount of days required by his injured list designation, Crawford hasn’t been activated or played in a live game. That could change in the coming days.
“I think he’s a couple of days away, but I think he’s also prepared to go out and play a couple of games,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “Once we get to that space, where he can get into the batter’s box and feel good and going out on a rehab assignment, see how he bounces back and get ready to have him start playing.”
Crawford told reporters in the Giants’ clubhouse that he and the team haven’t scheduled a rehab assignment yet, but they have discussed it. The 12-year veteran is taking things day-by-day, he said.
A beacon of durability, Crawford has only been on the injured list three times and required one rehab assignment — in 2017.
The knee injury Crawford is dealing with stems from a home plate collision in Atlanta on June 21. It’s similar to the discomfort he experienced in 2018, when he played through nagging knee soreness to poor second-half results.
Crawford spent the minimum 10 days on the IL for the knee issue at the end of June, but pain returned during just his second game back. In nine July games, he hit .152 with a .194 on-base percentage.
Part of the issue with his first IL stint was the inability to simulate game action before returning. He felt good going through drills and running, but the knee flared up during the grind of a nine-inning game. A rehab assignment could be the only way to duplicate that experience.
Since Crawford hit the injured list, the Giants are 2-7, including their current seven-game losing streak. The defense, as it has for the majority of the season, has consistently cost SF runs. The expected infield core of Crawford, Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria has hardly shared the field this year due to injuries.
“It’s been tough to watch,” Crawford said. “I know that everybody’s grinding to get through it.”
It doesn’t come in direct response to the Giants’ slide, but Kapler did announce a slight shake-up Thursday. Bullpen/catching coach Craig Albernaz is moving from the pen to the dugout moving forward. Assistant pitching coach J.P. Martinez is taking Albernaz’s spot with the relievers.
The minor change gives Albernaz an opportunity to work closely in-game with rookie catcher Joey Bart. Kapler said this idea has been floated since spring training and the coaching staff has given it a lot of consideration.
“Alby has a long history of helping catchers improve,” Kapler said. “Sometimes we’ve found that he’s wanted to call in the dugout some of the things he’s been seeing or expecting, and we haven’t had that touchpoint. And we feel like it’s a good opportunity to try that.”
- LaMonte Wade Jr. isn’t starting on Thursday, but Kapler confirmed he is healthy. The 2021 Willie Mac Award winner has seen a reduced role this season — one that has been disrupted by multiple injuries. Wade is hitting .182 with a .634 OPS and made a costly error at first base in Los Angeles. Darin Ruf is starting at first base on Thursday, with Yermín Mercedes taking the DH spot. Expect Wade to replace either of them in a leverage situation.
- Evan Longoria, who hit the injured list July 24 with a mild hamstring strain, took a few grounders and threw lightly in the outfield Thursday. That’s an encouraging sign for the 37-year-old veteran.
- Joc Pederson is starting in left field against Cubs’ lefty Justin Steele, who has neutral splits. Pederson is hitting .138 in July and typically doesn’t start against southpaws, but Luis González experienced some slight back tightness and was scratched, Kapler said.
- The Giants signed the first 17 draft picks they selected, from first-rounder Reggie Crawford to 17th rounder Justin Bench. The dual-threat Crawford reportedly signed for slightly under slot value. San Francisco also inked four undrafted free agents.