SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NEWS

Austin Slater - In lineup for spring debut Slater (elbow) is leading off as the designated hitter Sunday against the Athletics in a Cactus League contest, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Slater will be making his spring training debut after missing the start of the exhibition season with right elbow neuritis. The 29-year-old will begin action as the DH but should progress to playing in the field in the coming days. Slater does not appear to be in danger of missing Opening Day at this stage.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mitch Haniger's oblique strain means the Giants are already testing their depth Even if his injury is minor, not having Haniger for Opening Day will create even more discontent over the Giants' chaotic offseason.

MARCH 12, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets 1st hits for Padres since 2021

A hit is a hit, even if it’s only spring training

MARCH 11, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marco Luciano - Optioned to minors Luciano (back) was optioned to minor-league camp Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Luciano hasn't appeared in a spring game because of his back trouble, but he has been a full participant in workouts as of late. The top hitting prospect in the San Francisco system is likely to begin the season with Double-A Richmond, and a strong showing there could go a long way to him making his MLB debut before 2023 comes to a close.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

SF Giants' Alex Cobb averts worst case after being hit by line-drive comebacker Cobb escaped with a bruised knee after initially fearing the worst when he was struck by a hard-hit comebacker.

MARCH 11, 2023 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Alex Cobb - Diagnosed with knee contusion Cobb was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after leaving Saturday's Cactus League start against the Dodgers and is hopeful to make his next scheduled start, Maria I. Guardado of...

Impact Cobb was hit in the knee with a line drive during the outing, and while he looked to be in significant pain, the right-hander's tests came back negative. The Giants will want to make sure the 35-year-old is healthy before he gets back on the mound, but there's a very good chance that Cobb will be ready for the beginning of the season.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Haniger shut down with left oblique strain SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Outfielder Mitch Haniger, one of the Giants’ top free-agent acquisitions, will be shut down for the next five to seven...

MARCH 11, 2023 • MLB.COM

Alex Cobb - Hit in leg by line drive Cobb was hit in the leg by a line drive in his start Saturday against the Dodgers, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury Ne...

Impact Cobb struck out five while allowing one run on two hits and no walks in three innings of work before his day was ended by a Miguel Vargas liner. He stayed down in pain initially, but the fact that he was able to walk off the field means he might not miss much (if any) time.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

David Villar - Scratched with hip tightness Villar was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers due to left hip tightness, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact After hitting a promising .231/.331/.455 (albeit with a 32.0 percent strikeout rate) in 52 games as a rookie last season, Villar entered spring training with a good shot to carve out a regular role at third base. If his injury remains nothing worse than tightness and he's able to return to the field soon, he'll still be in the favorite to start at the hot corner, but if he's forced to hit the injured list, Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis could earn a larger share of at-bats.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mitch Haniger - Diagnosed with Grade 1 strain Haniger underwent an MRI on Saturday which revealed a Grade 1 oblique strain, but he still could be ready for Opening Day, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Haniger was scratched Friday due to the issue, which turns out to be serious enough to keep him out for more than just a couple days. For now, manager Gabe Kapler is expressing optimism that Haniger will be ready by Opening Day, but given the outfielder's lengthy injury history, the Giants could elect to be cautious. Haniger will rest for five to seven days before being evaluated, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Giants' Sean Manaea, Blake Sabol bond over shared Samoan heritage If Sabol can make the Giants' roster as a Rule 5 player, he and Manaea could form the first all-Samoan battery in MLB history.

MARCH 11, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Mitch Haniger - Dealing with oblique tightness Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Friday that Haniger will be out for at least a couple of days due to oblique tightness, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Haniger was a late scratch from Friday afternoon's Cactus League game against the Rockies, and now there's a little more clarity on the issue. It sounds like the Giants might have caught the issue early enough that it won't affect his readiness for the beginning of the 2023 regular season, and for now there is no MRI scheduled. The oft-injured outfielder signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with San Francisco in December.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cole Waites - Not expected to be ready for opener Waites (lat) is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, Evan Webeck of the Mercury News reports.

Impact Waites sustained a right lat strain in early February just before the start of camp. He's resumed throwing off a mound but isn't going to have enough time to avoid an injured list stint. It does seem as though Waites should be an option for the Giants at some point in April, though.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Thomas Szapucki - Dealing with neuropathy Szapucki is likely to begin the season on the injured list due to neuropathy in his pitching arm, Evan Webeck of the Mercury News reports.

Impact Szapucki couldn't feel the fingers on his left hand during his lone Cactus League appearance back on Feb. 26. He hasn't thrown a ball since and the Giants are still trying to determine the root cause of the issue. It sounds like he'll remain shut down until the team has better idea of how to proceed, so he could be sidelined for a while.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

What is neuropathy? SF Giants' reliever describes 'throwing blind' with no feeling in arm Thomas Szapucki couldn’t feel his fingers in his first spring outing and hasn’t pitched since with what the club diagnosed as neuropathy in...

MARCH 10, 2023 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Vaun Brown - Should miss only a week Brown (knee) said Friday that he should be able to return to spring games in about a week, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Brown was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup this past Tuesday due to left patellar tendinitis and will require a bit more rest and treatment. Assuming he does indeed get back on the field in short order, the 24-year-old outfielder seems likely to be ready for the start of the minor-league season. He was sent out of major-league camp Friday afternoon as part of the Giants' second round of cuts.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heliot Ramos - Optioned to minors Ramos was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Ramos spent nearly all of last season with Triple-A Sacramento while making several brief stints with the Giants throughout the year. The 23-year-old outfielder put up just a .654 OPS in the minors in 2022, so there remains work to be done before he shows he's ready for a longer stay in the majors.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Hjelle - Impressing this spring Hjelle has allowed two earned runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out 10 over eight innings through three Cactus League appearances.

Impact That's the good news, but as a 25-year-old with all of 25 big-league innings under his belt, Hjelle faces an uphill battle in a crowded competition for a job in the San Francisco rotation. The right-hander logged a 5.76 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB across eight appearances last season, all as a bulk reliever, though he also started 22 times for Triple-A Sacramento and posted a 4.92 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 97 innings at that level. Hjelle likely needs a bit more time in the minors, but it's encouraging to see him flash some potential in spring training.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mitch Haniger - Scratched from lineup Haniger was scratched from the Giants lineup ahead of Friday's game against Colorado, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact There's no word yet on why Haniger was removed from the lineup, but the Giants will likely provide an update soon. In the meantime, Luis Matos will take his place in right field, batting eighth.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

The Giants have done an excellent job building rotation depth It's quantity over quality, but if the Giants miss the postseason, it's not going to be the starting pitching that is to blame.

MARCH 10, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Though uneventful, slugging Conforto enjoys return to defense SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One hour and 15 minutes before first pitch, Michael Conforto was already dressed in full uniform in the Giants’ clubhou...

MARCH 10, 2023 • MLB.COM

Logan Shore - Signs minor-league deal Shore signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Giants.

Impact Shore is 28 years old and has yet to appear in a game at the MLB level. A second-round pick of the Athletics in the 2016 MLB Draft, he struggled to a 5.68 ERA and 39:24 K:BB in 52.1 innings last season with the Triple-A affiliate of the Tigers.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Retired Pujols believes moving into coaching `will happen'

Retired slugger Albert Pujols believes he has a future in coaching but isn't in a hurry to get there

MARCH 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cole Waites - Set for another bullpen session Waites (lat) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Waites suffered a right light strain in early February, but he's made steady progress since resuming a throwing program a couple of weeks ago. The 24-year-old could be an option for the Giants' bullpen sometime in the opening month of the 2023 season if everything continues to go smoothly.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vaun Brown - Diagnosed with patellar tendinitis Brown has been diagnosed with left patellar tendinitis, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Brown was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup Tuesday because of soreness in his left knee and will need at least a couple more days off for rest and treatment. He is expected to begin his 2023 season at Double-A Richmond.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE