SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford stated final week he meant on beginning this weekend when he’s eligible to come back off the injured listing, and supervisor Gabe Kapler didn’t disabuse anybody of that notion Monday.
Earlier than the Giants opened their three-game collection with the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park, Kapler stated he felt “fairly good” about the potential for Crawford, who has a proper hamstring pressure, being activated Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Clearly, there’s a number of extra steps to take to ensure that he’s wholesome sufficient to tackle that final sport of the season,” Kapler stated. “But it surely’s actually inside the realm of chance and one thing that we’re working in the direction of. Clearly, it could imply loads to Giants followers, loads to Brandon, his household, and all of us as effectively.”
Requested if Crawford has to display something to point out he can play Sunday, Kapler stated, “He doesn’t should show something to me. He simply has to really feel wholesome sufficient to play for us.
“If he’s wholesome sufficient to play for us. we’ll be excited to have him at shortstop.”
Crawford did some infield drills Monday afternoon because the reeling Giants ready to open their last homestand of 2023 with their postseason hopes hanging by a thread. The Giants entered Monday 5 video games again of the Nationwide League’s last wild card spot with six video games left to play.
Crawford is within the last 12 months of a two-year, $32 million contract he signed with the Giants in Aug. 2021, and Sunday’s sport could be the final with the group and presumably his profession. Crawford, 36, hasn’t determined whether or not he’ll retire or maybe attempt to signal with one other staff if the Giants don’t supply him one other contract.
The Giants have each Marco Luciano and Tyler Fitzgerald ready within the wings as prospects to take over at shortstop.
“I’ve had plenty of ideas,” Crawford stated final Thursday. “I don’t have a solution. However I’ve had loads of ideas.”
Crawford has performed in 1,653 video games for San Francisco over a 13-year MLB profession after he was drafted by the group in 2008 within the fourth spherical. The 91 video games he has performed to date this 12 months, although, is the fewest over a full season since his rookie 12 months in 2011. He’s batting a career-worst .197 with a paltry .595 OPS, and likewise has a .964 fielding proportion, effectively beneath his profession common of .974.
Nonetheless, Crawford has performed extra video games at shortstop than anybody in franchise historical past and since his MLB debut in 2011, has received two World Collection, 4 Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger award. The Pleasanton native has additionally been chosen to 4 all-star video games.
“It’s going to be emotional, most likely. You guys know the way emotional I usually get,” Crawford stated of Sunday’s sport. “I don’t know. In a method, I suppose I’m wanting ahead to it simply to have that, to have that sport.”
TRANSACTION: The Giants recalled reliever Sean Hjelle recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday and positioned fellow righty Luke Jackson on the Paternity Checklist.
Catcher Joey Bart was additionally within the Giants’ clubhouse earlier than Monday’s sport and was at his former locker, however Kapler stated the staff wasn’t able to announce a proper transaction.
Employees author Evan Webeck contributed to this story.