Giants' Austin Slater: Expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks
Rotowire
Slater (hamstring) is expected to be out for the next 3-to-4 weeks, Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Slater strained his left hamstring in a Cactus League game last Thursday and is now certain to open the 2023 regular season on the injured list. He also missed time in the early part of camp because of right elbow neuritis, but that issue at least seems to be in the rearview. The 30-year-old outfielder will aim to join the Giants before the end of April.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Still being held out of workouts
Rotowire
Slater (hamstring) was again held out of all workouts Tuesday in Giants camp, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Slater suffered a strained hamstring last Thursday in a Cactus League game and seems doubtful to be ready for Opening Day at this point. It was initially diagnosed as a calf cramp, but an MRI taken Friday revealed the bad news.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Getting MRI on calf
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Slater will have an MRI performed on his calf Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater had to be pulled from Thursday's game against Seattle after experiencing cramping in his calf. His injury is thought to be relatively minor, but the test results will provide a more definitive answer. Slater had been sidelined this spring up until Thursday after being diagnosed with right elbow neuritis a few weeks ago.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Diagnosed with strained hamstring
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Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced Saturday that Slater has a strained hamstring, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Slater was originally announced to have been removed from Thursday's Cactus League game with calf cramps, but imaging has revealed the strain. The outfielder is now in danger of missing Opening Day, as there's less than two weeks until the Giants take on the Yankees in regular-season play. A trip to the injured list seems more likely than not.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Pulled early due to calf cramp
Rotowire
Slater was removed from Thursday's Cactus League game against the Mariners due to calf cramping, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Thankfully it had nothing to do with his right elbow neuritis, which limited him to DH duties before he made his spring debut in the outfield Thursday afternoon. Slater should be fine after a day or two of rest and fluids.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Making first OF start Thursday
Rotowire
Slater (elbow) is making his first outfield start of the spring Thursday against the Mariners.
Slater will cover center field and bat cleanup after taking his first handful of Cactus League plate appearances out of the DH spot. He was diagnosed with right elbow neuritis a few weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to be an issue any longer.
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Giants' Austin Slater: In lineup for spring debut
Rotowire
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.
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.
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Giants' Austin Slater: To resume throwing Friday
Rotowire
Slater (elbow) has resumed hitting on the field and will begin a throwing progression Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Slater has yet to appear in a Cactus League game this spring after coming down with right elbow neuritis in late February, but an MRI taken last week showed no structural damage and he hasn't been ruled out for Opening Day.
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Giants' Austin Slater: MRI comes back clean
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Slater's MRI on his right elbow revealed no structural damage, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater is currently sitting out for a week while dealing with neuritis in his right elbow, but the clean imaging suggests he should be back shortly. The versatile right-handed hitter slashed .264/.366/.408 over 325 plate appearances for the Giants in 2022 with seven home runs, and he should be a key cog for the San Francisco bench this summer.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Out at least one more week
Rotowire
The Giants announced Wednesday that Slater has been diagnosed with right elbow neuritis and will be shut down for the next week before being re-evaluated, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
The outfielder was scratched from the lineup ahead of last Saturday's spring opener due to the injury and has yet to play in a Cactus League game. Slater's status for the start of the 2023 season is up in the air, but more information on his condition should be available next week. When healthy, the righty-hitting Slater should be in store for a short-side platoon role in the San Francisco outfield.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Scratched with sore elbow
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Slater was scratched from the line for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Cubs due to elbow soreness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants are reportedly not particularly worried about the issue, but there's little need to push anything with Opening Day over a month away. Slater appears poised to continue his role as a lefty-masher this season. His career OPS against lefties (.845) is nearly 200 points better than his mark against righties (.650). That skill set should continue to keep him on a roster, but it also means he's never received more than 325 plate appearances in a season.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Avoids arbitration
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Slater agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Giants on Friday to avoid arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater had a career-high 325 plate appearances last year and posted a .264/.366/.408 slash line with seven home runs and 12 steals. The 30-year-old has carved out a role against left-handed pitching in San Francisco over the past few years and is likely to be used similarly in 2023.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Notches homer, steal in finale
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Slater went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Monday's 8-1 victory versus the Padres.
Slater enjoyed a nice end to his season, swatting his seventh homer and swiping his 12th bag in the win. The veteran outfielder wrapped up 2022 with a .264/.366/.408 slash line over 125 games. He worked mostly in a platoon role this season and could do so again next year.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Homers as pinch hitter
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Slater went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Diamondbacks.
Slater entered the game as a pinch hitter for LaMonte Wade in the seventh inning, and the switch paid off. Slater went yard to give the Giants a short-lived 2-1 lead. The outfielder has gone 4-for-8 with a homer and a double across his last four games, though he's slipped back into a short-side platoon role down the stretch after returning from a hand injury. He's slashing .265/.368/.403 with six homers, 33 RBI, 48 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 315 plate appearances this season.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Back in action
Rotowire
Slater (hand) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Monday's game against Colorado, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Slater has spent the last few weeks on the IL due to a left hand sprain, but he ramped up baseball activities over the weekend and has since been activated. He figures to serve as outfield depth down the stretch for San Francisco.
Slater (hand) has resumed hitting and fielding fly balls, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater landed on the 10-day injured list with a left hand sprain in early September, but he said Saturday that he hopes to return during the Giants' upcoming road trip, which begins Monday. While it's not yet clear which day he'll be activated, he's certainly trending in the right direction.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Heads to 10-day IL
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The Giants placed Slater on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left hand sprain.
He suffered a dislocated left pinkie finger early last week, and while he played in some games since then as a defensive replacement and pinch runner, he hadn't logged any at-bats. Perhaps Slater sprained his hand in one of the games he appeared in off the bench, or his pinkie injury was re-diagnosed. Slater will be eligible to return Sept. 14 against Atlanta.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Still out Monday
Rotowire
Slater (finger) remains out of action Monday against the Dodgers.
While Slater isn't an everyday player, he starts against most lefties, so it's notable that he is sitting with southpaw Andrew Heaney on the hill for the Dodgers. Lewis Brinson is getting the start in center field and leading off.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Still not starting
Rotowire
Slater (finger) isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Phillies.
Slater is out of the lineup for a third consecutive matchup, but he's come off the bench in the last two games. It wouldn't be surprising to see him available in a depth capacity once again Saturday.
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Giants' Austin Slater: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Slater (finger) isn't starting Friday against the Phillies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Slater dislocated his left pinky finger Tuesday against the Padres and will be held out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. His availability off the bench isn't yet clear, but Mike Yastrzemski will start in center field and bat second.
