Jerar Encarnacion suffered a fracture in his left hand (near his ring finger) eight days ago, and the Giants outfielder underwent surgery on his hand yesterday. The Giants were holding off a set timeline on Encarnacion’s recovery until the surgery was complete, and the team announced today that Encarnacion will be out of action for eight weeks. Encarnacion began the season on San Francisco’s 10-day injured list, but given this new information, it seems like the club could move him to the 60-day IL (officially sidelining Encarnacion until at least late May) whenever a 40-man roster spot is needed.
The injury was suffered when Encarnacion dove for a ball in the outfield during a Spring Training game on March 21. Initially, the injury was described as a jammed finger, and Encarnacion also said he was facing a recovery time of around 4-6 weeks since the issue was a hairline fracture in the ring finger. However, more tests seemingly revealed more serious damage, leading to an even longer IL stay for the 27-year-old.
Encarnacion made his MLB debut in the form of 23 games and 81 plate appearances with the Marlins in 2022, and he didn’t return to the big leagues until his minor league contract with the Giants was selected to the club’s active roster last August. In between, Encarnacion’s bat was on fire for much of the 2024 season — first during a stint in the Mexican League, and then with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. That big production got him another look at the Major League level, and Encarnacion then hit .248/.277/.425 with five home runs over his 119 PA in a San Francisco uniform.
While not exceptional numbers, Encarnacion did enough to keep himself on the radar for an increased role in the 2025 lineup. Until his injury unfortunately spoiled things, Encarnacion was having a strong spring camp, and was projected to be the Giants’ primary DH. Encarnacion has never been considered a great defensive player, yet he might well have also gotten some playing time as a right-handed hitting complement to lefty swingers Mike Yastrzemski or LaMonte Wade Jr. in right field or at first base.
The Giants have other right-handed depth available, and Encarnacion’s injury most directly opened the door for rookie Christian Koss to make the Opening Day roster. Wilmer Flores will probably get the majority of DH at-bats until Encarnacion is back, though the Giants could opt to just cycle multiple players through the DH spot to keep everyone fresh.
It’s a tough blow but with Wilmer swinging the bat well it won’t hurt too bad.
AND, it allows other players to rotate thru the DH spot.
really annoying!
The extra roster spot will be a silver lining. Plus Jerar will spend at least a couple of weeks with Sacramento getting his swing back. I was hoping the Giants would claim Canario from the Mets. Bring him back home, hoping he would provide lightning in a bottle. He strikes out too much yes, but what power hitter doesn’t.
Anyone who watched Jerar last year knows the guy can flat out hit, and for a big man he runs quite well. The sooner he’s back the better. Tough blow for a guy the Giants need.
I was expecting some player to go down before the start of the season
And if you think about it – of all the other starting eight players he was the least important for us to lose …
I’m just wondering how we’re gonna get by with four outfielders
Don’t forget that in a pinch Fitz can play outfield while Casey can play 2B. By the end of the season quite possible that it happens. Fitz, to me, a better fit as the utility guy anyway.
Bummer on Jerar. One of the biggest guys I’ve ever stood next to Shaq was #1.
Who’s the biggest person, physically, you’ve ever been next to?
Wilt Chamberlain.
Cyclops. But he kept an eye on me.
Pretty ironic that the guy was expected to be the full-time DH and he hurt himself playing defense.