Injuries & Moves: Snell nearing return; Cobb's progress stalls
LATEST NEWS
May 18: LHP Blake Snell nearing return
Manager Bob Melvin said Snell is on track to return to the Giants' rotation next week, possibly as soon as Wednesday at Pittsburgh. Snell has been out since April 19 due to a left adductor strain, but he's looked dominant in his two rehab starts, tossing nine hitless innings with 17 strikeouts in two appearances between Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento.
The latest update on Alex Cobb wasn't as encouraging, as the 36-year-old veteran was shut down again due to persistent discomfort in his right shoulder.
"There hasn’t been progress," Melvin said. "He’s still feeling it in his shoulder a little bit. We’re not really sure what’s causing it."
May 18: OF Ryan McKenna claimed off waivers from the Orioles; OF Jung Hoo Lee transferred to the 60-day injured list
McKenna, 27, spent the last four seasons in Baltimore, where he batted .224 with a .634 OPS and eight home runs over 293 games before being designated for assignment on Monday. The right-handed hitter has played all three outfield spots in the Majors and could provide some depth there for the Giants, who are currently without Lee (left shoulder dislocation), Michael Conforto (right hamstring strain) and Austin Slater (concussion).
May 17: RHP Keaton Winn placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to May 15) with right forearm strain; RHP Mason Black recalled from Triple-A Sacramento; OF Jorge Soler activated from 10-day IL; IF Casey Schmitt optioned to Triple-A Sacramento
Winn walked off the mound accompanied by team trainer Dave Groeschner after his velocity began to dip in the fifth inning of the Giants' 10-2 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday night. MRI results showed a mild strain, and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Winn could be back once his 15 days on the IL are up. Black was called up and tabbed for his third Major League start in Friday's series opener vs. the Rockies, with Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks each getting pushed back a day for extra rest.
Soler, who'd been out with a right shoulder strain, returned after two rehab games with Triple-A Sacramento and slotted in to bat leadoff vs. the Rockies. Schmitt batted .136 in six games with the Giants, including Sunday's walk-off RBI double vs. the Reds.
7-DAY/10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Blake Snell (left adductor strain)
Expected return: Late May
Snell was scheduled to make his fourth start of the year against the Mets on April 24, but he was scratched after landing on the 15-day injured list with an adductor issue. He made his first rehab start with Single-A San Jose on May 12, striking out seven over four perfect innings on 46 pitches, including an immaculate inning. Snell continued to dazzle in his next appearance with Triple-A Sacramento on May 17, striking out 10 over five no-hit innings. He is likely to rejoin the Giants' rotation next week, possibly as soon as May 22 at Pittsburgh.
Before suffering the injury, the reigning National League Cy Young winner had gone 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA over his first three starts for San Francisco. (Last updated: May 18)
C Patrick Bailey (concussion)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Bailey originally landed on the concussion list after taking a foul ball off his face mask on May 4, though he returned to action after missing the minimum seven days. Bailey passed concussion protocols before being activated on May 11, but he continued to experience cold-like symptoms in subsequent days, which forced him back on the IL on May 14. Bailey flew to Pittsburgh, Pa., on May 16 to be evaluated by concussion expert Dr. Mickey Collins, who was pleased with the 24-year-old's progress. Bailey is expected to resume full baseball activity the weekend of May 17 and will be reevaluated the following week. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Keaton Winn (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Late May or June
Winn walked off the mound accompanied by team trainer Dave Groeschner after his velocity began to dip in the fifth inning of the Giants' 10-2 loss to the Dodgers on May 14. MRI results showed a mild strain, and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Winn could be back once his 15 days on the IL are up on May 30. (Last updated: May 17)
OF Michael Conforto (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Conforto singled in the fourth inning of the Giants' 5-1 win over the Reds on May 11, but he grabbed his right leg after rounding first base and was subsequently lifted for pinch-runner Mike Yastrzemski. An MRI exam revealed the hamstring strain, prompting the Giants to place him on the 10-day injured list the next day. Conforto, who leads the team with seven home runs, previously missed 19 games with a left hamstring strain down the stretch last year.
He has resumed light baseball activity, including throwing and hitting in the cage, and will begin a running progression on May 18. (Last updated: May 17)
OF Austin Slater (concussion)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Slater suffered a concussion after slamming into the center-field wall while attempting to make a catch in the first inning of the Giants' May 10 loss to the Reds at Oracle Park. He continued to experience fogginess and blurry vision the following day, prompting the Giants to place him on the seven-day concussion list. Slater will be eligible to return on May 21, but he'll need to clear concussion protocol before being activated. He has resumed baseball activity, including playing catch and light running, and is expected to begin a hitting progression the weekend of May 17. (Last updated: May 17)
SS Nick Ahmed (left wrist sprain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Ahmed came out of the Giants' May 9 loss to the Rockies in the fourth inning after taking an awkward swing in his previous plate appearance. The 34-year-old veteran had been experiencing some discomfort since he took a 108 mph liner off his left wrist during a game against the Pirates on April 27. Ahmed underwent an MRI exam on May 10 that revealed the sprain, which will likely sideline him for a couple of weeks. (Last updated: May 10)
60-DAY IL
CF Jung Hoo Lee (left shoulder dislocation)
Expected return: 2025
Lee hurt his shoulder after crashing into the center-field fence while attempting to catch Jeimer Candelario’s bases-clearing double off Kyle Harrison in the first inning of the Giants' 6-5 win over the Reds on May 12.
Lee immediately grabbed his left shoulder after going down and didn’t get up for several minutes, with fellow outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos quickly calling for team trainers to check on him. Lee eventually got up and departed the game, but he didn’t appear to be moving his left arm, which was held by head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner as he walked off the field.
The 25-year-old rookie landed on the 10-day IL the next day, with an MRI exam later revealing structural damage in his left shoulder. The Giants announced that Lee would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and transferred him to the 60-day IL on May 18. (Last updated: May 18)
RHP Alex Cobb (left hip surgery)
Expected return: June
Cobb was progressing well in his rehab from offseason hip surgery, but he hit another setback when he felt mild shoulder irritation before throwing a bullpen session on April 16. Cobb attempted to resume throwing after that, but he was shut down again after continuing to experience soreness in his shoulder.
"There hasn’t been progress," manager Bob Melvin said on May 18. "He’s still feeling it in his shoulder a little bit. We’re not really sure what’s causing it."
Cobb was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 20, so he won't be eligible to return until May 27. (Last updated: May 18)
C Tom Murphy (left knee sprain)
Expected return: July
Murphy felt a pop in his knee after going down to try to block a wild pitch in the second inning of the Giants' 14-3 loss to the Phillies on May 4 and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day. An MRI exam revealed a Grade 1-2 sprain for Murphy, who is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 15 to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow backstop Curt Casali.
Signed to a two-year, $8.25 million deal in December, Murphy hit .118 with one home run over his first 13 games with the Giants. (Last updated: May 15)
RHP Tristan Beck (upper right arm aneurysm)
Expected return: Second half
Beck, 27, felt his hand go cold after throwing some bullpen sessions early in camp, prompting the Giants to send him back to San Francisco to be evaluated by team doctors on Feb. 27. He ended up visiting a vascular specialist at Stanford, who helped determine that an aneurysm -- an abnormal bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel -- was the source of the numbness. Beck was transferred to the 60-day injured list on March 3 and underwent surgery at Stanford the next day to address the issue.
Beck was cleared to resume full baseball activity after a follow-up appointment with Dr. Jason Lee on May 1. He is playing light catch (60 feet) three times a week and is continuing his strength program. (Last updated: May 10)
LHP Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half
Ray has been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week in Arizona. The 2021 American League Cy Young winner has been pleased with his progress, but he's still expected to be out until the second half of the season. Ray was acquired from the Mariners in exchange for outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on Jan. 5. (Last updated: May 3)
RHP Austin Warren (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: June or July
Warren began his throwing progression on March 11 and has been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week in Arizona. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $755,000 contract with the Giants on Feb. 14 and could help boost the bullpen once he's healthy. Warren recorded a 3.55 ERA over 32 career appearances for the Angels from 2021-23. (Last updated: May 3)
LHP Ethan Small (moderate right oblique strain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Small is currently throwing out to 90 feet and continuing his rehab in Arizona. He was acquired from the Brewers over the offseason and was in the running for a bullpen spot before sustaining the injury. Small was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 28, so he won't be eligible to return until May 27 at the earliest. (Last updated: April 8)