OAKLAND — The Giants confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Joe Panik has a mild concussion, and is on the 7-day concussion DL. He saw a specialist at Stanford on Wednesday, and will rest for the next 24 hours.
After that, the Giants just hope they’ll have their second baseman back next week. Manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the unpredictable nature of concussions, and the Giants have had a handful of players in the last few years deal with extended symptoms.
Here’s the likely cause of Panik’s injury, getting hit in the back of the head on June 18 in Tampa Bay.
Infielder Ruben Tejada was called up from Triple-A, and he’s starting at third and batting ninth in Wednesday’s lineup. He’ll be playing behind Jake Peavy (4-6, 5.22 ERA), who’s trying to stop the Giants’ (49-30) two-game skid against the A’s (34-43). Tejada has experience at shortstop, second base and third, but Bochy said he’ll primarily play third base against lefties. Lineups are below.
The Giants had to clear a 40-man roster spot to call up Tejada, so Chris Heston was moved to the 60-day disabled list with a strained oblique. Heston had to be put on the major-league DL, meaning the right-hander gets a six-figure raise, making a pro-rated, major-league minimum salary (around $500,000) for his two months on the DL. So his Wednesday could be worse.
Tejada made headlines in October when Chase Utley fractured Tejada’s leg on a late slide. The new Giants infielder said he feels no residual effects of the injury now, and started improving in December. Utley still plays for the Giants’ chief rival, but Tejada laughed off the suggestion that was any factor in signing his minor league deal.
“For me, that’s history,” he said.
Other updates to pass along:
-Sergio Romo will throw on Thursday and Friday for Triple-A Sacramento. He threw two scoreless innings on Tuesday for Single-A San Jose.
-Kelby Tomlinson has been out since June 10 with a sprained left thumb, but he’s going to begin his rehab assignment this weekend. He’ll DH with San Jose, then play in the field with Sacramento later next week.
-After last night’s four-pitcher, 10-run bullpen disaster, Bochy said all his relievers are available.
“You’re going to have some rough days,” Bochy said, “and that certainly was last night.”
But he seemed to brush off Tuesday’s loss relatively easy, noting that the Giants wouldn’t be where they are right now if it wasn’t for the bullpen. They have a major-league best 19 wins in one-run games, and lead the Dodgers by six games in the NL West.
Giants lineup vs. Sean Manaea (2-4, 6.02 ERA)
CF – Denard Span
LF – Angel Pagan
1B – Brandon Belt
DH – Buster Posey
SS – Brandon Crawford
C – Trevor Brown
RF – Mac Williamson
2B – Ramiro Peña
3B – Ruben Tejada
A’s lineup vs. Jake Peavy
LF – Coco Crisp
2B – Jed Lowrie
RF – Josh Reddick
3B – Danny Valencia
C – Stephen Vogt
DH – Billy Butler
1B – Yonder Alonso
SS – Marcus Semien
CF – Billy Burns