SF Giants recall Encarnacion from injured list, option Matos to Sacramento
PITTSBURGH — A week ago, the Giants’ options in right field were Mike Yastrzemski and Luis Matos. Now, they’re Grant McCray and Jerar Encarnacion.
The Giants ended Encarnacion’s rehab assignment on Monday and recalled him from Triple-A Sacramento before their game against the Pirates. In a corresponding move, the team optioned Matos to Sacramento.
Manager Bob Melvin said Encarnacion will see more time in right field than first base with Rafael Devers, Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores all capable of playing first base. With Encarnacion being a right-handed hitter and McCray being a left-handed hitter, Melvin said matchups will factor into playing time.
When asked if Encarnacion will receive the bulk of time in right field, Melvin said that decision will be “performance-based.”
“(Encarnacion) will, my guess, get a start here depending on how (McCray) plays,” Melvin said. “Obviously, we can use him off the bench. He’s got a lot of at-bats under his belt.”
It has been a whirlwind of a year for Encarnacion up to this point.
Encarnacion was expected to make San Francisco’s Opening Day roster out of spring training after he hit .302 with two home runs and an .856 OPS during Cactus League play. That performance came after Encarnacion exhibited elite power with the Giants last season, hitting five homers over 35 games while posting awe-inspiring exit velocities.
In the final days of camp, Encarnacion fractured his left hand when diving for a ball in the field, sidelining him for several weeks.
The 27-year-old appeared in his first two rehab games with Triple-A Sacramento on May 10 and May 11, only to have his rehab assignment paused due to hand soreness. He resumed his assignment on May 27, playing in just five games before being recalled to San Francisco.
Encarnacion struggled upon rejoining the team, a byproduct of his limited plate appearances with Sacramento. He went 3-for-22 (.136) over eight games before sustaining a left oblique strain in mid-June, forcing him to miss more time.
This time around, the Giants made sure Encarnacion had plenty of at-bats with the River Cats before bringing him back up to the majors. In his last 12 games with Sacramento, Encarnacion hit .295 with two homers, nine RBIs and an .857 OPS.
Encarnacion said his extended time with the River Cats allowed him to rediscover the swing he had during spring training.
“It wasn’t a long time, it wasn’t a short time, it was God’s time,” Encarnacion said. “Everything happens for a reason. First, it was a short (rehab), but then I got an opportunity to go back again to continue working with that goal.”
Added Melvin: “(His at-bats) were better. You look at his numbers, especially recently, he’s been swinging the bat good. … That’s kind of what we were hoping for when we got him back this time.”
Miller, Roupp to throw live bullpens
Left-hander Erik Miller (left elbow sprain) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen in Arizona on Monday, while right-hander Landen Roupp (right elbow inflammation) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen in Arizona on Tuesday.
Roupp, who has a 3.11 ERA over 20 starts, could maybe rejoin the Giants during their upcoming nine-game homestand, per Melvin. His return would lean towards being later on during the homestand since Roupp will need another outing.
The Giants considered Roupp’s injury to be minor when they placed him on the 15-day injured list on July 25 (retroactive to July 23). With Roupp injured and Hayden Birdsong still in Sacramento, left-hander Carson Whisenhunt and right-hander Kai-Wei Teng are occupying their respective spots in the rotation for now.
Miller, who has a 1.50 ERA over 36 games, was placed on the injured list on July 5 (retroactive to July 3) and said he would prefer two or three rehab outings given how much time he has missed.