Austin Slater spent the first three weeks of the season on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. When he returned, the center fielder immediately helped solve San Francisco’s woes against left-handed pitching, batting .368.
But Slater again injured his left hamstring in Wednesday’s game, putting his availability in question. The 30-year-old exited in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness after pulling up while hustling on an infield dribbler.
“It’s definitely very frustrating,” Slater said postgame. “It doesn’t feel like I can catch a break right now. Hopefully it’s nothing major.”
Slater’s hope is backed by early optimism. The early returns, according to manager Gabe Kapler, is that there’s optimism Slater’s injury is more tightness than another strain. He’ll get a scan on Thursday.
Slater stumbled out of the box after chopping a hit toward shortstop. If he ran all the way through the bag, he would’ve legged out an RBI infield single. Instead, he felt a snag in his left hamstring and stopped running about 15 feet from the first base bag.
Unaware that Slater got injured, the Oracle Park booed Slater for what appeared to be a lack of hustle. In reality, Slater headed straight to the trainer’s room with athletic trainer Anthony Reyes.
“I’d say the down-low that I got from Anthony Reyes is that he was optimistic that it’s more tightness than a surefire strain,” Kapler said postgame.
Slater said this particular injury didn’t feel as bad as the one he suffered on the same leg during spring training. By the time he spoke to reporters at his locker pregame, Slater said the pain had improved “a little bit.”
The Giants are already down Mike Yastrzemski (hamstring strain), leaving Brett Wisely as the only healthy center fielder on the roster. Wisely, a utility player, started Wednesday’s 11-6 loss to the Nationals at second base, but has looked confident in center.
Yastrzemski has already progressed to baseball activities and running. His Grade 1 hamstring that he suffered on April 30 typically carries a recovery time of roughly three to five weeks.