Steven Duggar’s injury creates a new challenge for Giants’ front office

SAN FRANCISCO — When Steven Duggar jammed his left shoulder into the outfield grass while making a diving catch on Wednesday, the Giants outfielder feared the worst.

“When I landed, I kind of felt like it was something a little bit serious,” Duggar said. “It was a Grade 3 (sprain) and we’re still deciding what to do.”

Duggar did not damage his rotator cuff or the labrum he tore last August that required season-ending surgery, but he did suffer a significant sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder. The injury will cost him the remainder of the regular season and if he opts to undergo surgery, Duggar won’t play again until 2020.

“He was really playing well, swinging well and I thought his swings were really good up here,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Then he has this setback up here and unfortunately it’s another bump in the road he has to overcome.”

The Giants placed Duggar on the 60-day injured list Friday, which means he wouldn’t be eligible to play until the end of the National League Division Series. The outfielder, the training staff and specialist Dr. Gary Waslewski will know more about his recovery process after a Monday appointment in Scottsdale, Ariz., but Duggar’s upcoming visit with Waslewski won’t provide the organization with any clarity regarding their 2020 outfield depth chart.

After Duggar played just 41 games as a rookie last season, the Giants were optimistic a full season in the big leagues would allow them to evaluate how Duggar will fit into their future plans. An April trade for Kevin Pillar cut into Duggar’s playing time early in the year before a back injury and struggles at the plate ultimately forced the Giants to send the outfielder to Triple-A.

Duggar excelled against Pacific Coast League pitching and earned his way back to the major league roster, but he only appeared in six games before suffering an injury that threatens to keep him off the field until spring training.

A struggle to stay on the diamond may compel some players to change their style of play, but Duggar’s aggressiveness is also what’s made him an attractive option for the Giants over the last two seasons.

“That’s how I’ve always played,” Duggar said. “You don’t want to sacrifice who you are just because you get banged up.”

The Giants will enter the offseason with questions and concerns at all three outfield spots, but particularly in center field which is Duggar’s natural position. Another injury makes it less likely that the team enters the 2020 season with Duggar as the projected everyday starter, but there’s no guarantee the franchise will tender a contract to Pillar this winter.

The seventh-year veteran leads the Giants with 105 hits and 56 RBIs and has clearly demonstrated a knack for making exceptional defensive plays in the outfield, but he’s making $5.8 million this season and would be in line for a raise if the Giants commit to bringing the arbitration-eligible outfielder back next year.

The Giants promoted top outfield prospect Heliot Ramos, 19, to Double-A Richmond on Thursday, but it’s still too soon to know whether Ramos is best suited to play center field in the majors or move to a corner outfield position.

With concerns over the durability of power-hitting left fielder Alex Dickerson and questions as to whether inexperienced players like Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski can provide much-needed consistency beyond this season, the Giants’ front office is tasked with creating more stability in the outfield this winter.

Duggar’s injury doesn’t necessarily change any of president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi’s winter agenda, but it will prevent the Giants from evaluating Duggar’s long-term ability to contribute over the final two months of the season.

For an organization that entered the year searching for answers, what the future holds in center field remains a lingering question.

Giants bring Barraclough home

The Giants claimed reliever Kyle Barraclough on waivers Friday after the hard-throwing right-hander was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals.

Barraclough, 29, is a Santa Clara native who attended Wilcox High and St. Mary’s College and has spent parts of five seasons in the major leagues with the Marlins and Nationals. The right-hander has been added to the 40-man roster and will report to Triple-A Sacramento, but he is now a candidate to help in the bullpen down the stretch.

“He’s thrown really well against us,” Bochy said. “We saw him more in Miami and he’s a guy with a good arm and sometimes a change of scenery is good for players.”

Panik returns to New York

Former Giants second baseman Joe Panik agreed to terms with the New York Mets Friday and started at second base in his first game with his new club. Bochy said he texted with the Yonkers, New York native and was excited the infielder received an opportunity close to home.

“That’s awesome. He’s home,” Bochy said. “They’ve got a New York native playing for them and he’ll help them.”