The Giants activated outfielder/DH Joc Pederson from the 10-day injured list, with Heliot Ramos optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move. Pederson was expected to return today, as he’ll end up missing only one day beyond his minimum 10-day absence.
A bout of right wrist inflammation sidelined Pederson, but fortunately it looks like the injury was pretty minor in nature. Pederson will now return to the lineup and hope to build on a quality start to the season, as the slugger hit .242/.350/.545 with two homers over his first 40 plate appearances of 2023.
The Giants have been using Pederson exclusively as a designated hitter, and he’ll continue to get the bulk of DH at-bats for the remainder of the season (with a few looks as a corner outfielder and perhaps at first base as circumstances dictate). Darin Ruf and Michael Conforto have been getting most of the DH time in Pederson’s absence, but they will likely return to the first base and outfield duty respectively. Of course, the Giants are prone to mixing and matching even their regular starters based on matchups, so a right-handed batter like Ruf is probably likely to spell a lefty bat like Pederson or Conforto if a southpaw is on the mound.
This is Pederson’s second year in San Francisco, after hitting .274/.353/.521 with 23 homers over 433 PA in 2022. Pederson was a free agent last winter but instead opted for the one-year windfall of the qualifying offer, as he accepted the Giants’ QO and locked in a $19.65MM salary for the current season.
27champyankees
Joc Pederson: The slow platoon bat that can’t play defense that Farhan Zaidi decided to give 20 Million dollars to despite the fact that Pederson hadn’t ever been paid more than 8 Million per year at any time in his career
The SF Giants are just a Mess
mlb fan
The S.F Giants had their only success under real baseball people, not the computer nerd, analytics bozos who currently run the team.
raregokus
It’s so funny to me that there’s a whole legion of commenters on this website that are so afraid of math that they dedicate their lives to complaining about analytics at every opportunity
mlb fan
Do not worry, your upper crust, Ivy League Elites, will always continue to have a major role in sports.
Datashark
Be happy they are not the A’s
Pickle_Britches
Don’t hold your breath yet give em few months
Pickle_Britches
I agree lol. Zaidi needs to steer away from these LA bums that they don’t want. Team is a joke. They’re better off just loosing to get a top 5 pick. But knowing them they’ll draft a complimentary round type lol.
TheBull
@mlb fan
Agreed. But what’s up with the Giants fans that defend everything Zaidi does??? Franchise has developed a Losing culture and the fans still back the direction of the team
They are either misinformed or fools.
I guarantee Giants fans will start posting on this thread singing Joc Perderson’s praise or defending their Farhan Nerd.
mlb fan
Giants mgmt seems to have it on autopilot, just cashing checks from all the surrounding area real estate they own. People can say what they want about “Joc”, but the fact is he’s a useful player(lefty masher)and the S.F Giants haven’t DRAFTED a player as good as him, in a DECADE or more. THAT’S the real problem, Farhan hasn’t drafted well.
Robrock30
Great news for the record I like Joc!
mlb fan
I do too. The dude is a postseason legend. In my book anyway. Look at his postseason stats. That being said, he’s not a 19 million dollar per yr player. The market has proved that several times. But I’ll take “Joc” as a bench bat, 4th OF, on my team any day.
LoveTheSFGiants
Definitely won’t defend Farhan Zaidi. He’s now in year 5 and it’s make or break for me as a lifelong fan. Unfortunately I don’t see him going anywhere as ownership has stated they are happy and The Giants were one of the most profitable teams last year. Owners care more about the $ than winning.
Datashark
107 wins earns you extra leeway
Breck68
That was not Farhan Zaidi or Gabe Kepler’s doing at all. The 107 season was all the players playing for themselves. This whole analytics is a bunch of crap. I don’t see why they don’t let players try playing through slumps. This playing a player who gets a hit or two and sitting them the next few games helps no one.
raregokus
So it’s the players who won them 101 games, but the players aren’t responsible at all for underperforming in 2022 and so far in 2023? What happened in the 2021-2022 off-season that shifted all responsibility to the front office?
D2323
Just in time to hit 3 HRs vs the Mets again.
Old York
Just in time for him to carry the Giants to the playoffs.
baseballandbrews
Not a fan of those shoulder jersey advertisements.
Pickle_Britches
Giants are to old they need young talents, but wait they can’t draft any. So maybe they need a complete overhaul including management and scouts
Vince Ferragamo's Dog
Wish Joc ‘Pearls’ Pederson had nvr left Dodgers, 40 bombs 4lefty platoon player, take that all-day everyday, see how ATL faired after picking em up, he’s great clubhouse guy, puts team 1st, n is not afraid to take the heat away from teammates, very serviceable in OF, he’s a winner !