Michael Conforto (hamstring) is likely to be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s game in Arizona. Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that on Monday Conforto got into two rehab games with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday and Saturday. He went 1-for-5 with one walk and a strikeout. He was set to be re-evaluated by the team after that, and as long as he feels fine, he’s expected back in the lineup on Monday. Conforto has missed more than three weeks of action due to a right hamstring strain.
Michael Conforto on Track to Return on Monday
Conforto,31, has been eligible to come off the injured list since May 22. He came close to playing in the San Francisco Giants road series against the New York Mets but was convinced to give his injury more time to heal.
“I’ve been careful with it. I was a little less careful when I was trying to play in New York,” Conforto said to Michael Wagaman of Yahoo Sports. “But the training staff kind of helped me balance my emotional want to play in New York with (being smart) and protecting the bulk of the season and not try to push this thing too hard.
“I haven’t felt anything in it. It was just an unrealistic timeline to try to come back in New York. The biggest thing with hammies is time. We’re just taking it day by day.”
The Loss of Conforto
Conforto’s landing on the IL was damaging for the Giants. The veteran outfielder signed with San Francisco on a two-year deal after missing the 2022 season due to injury. He posted league-average results last year, but he’s been one of their more productive hitters with a strong .280/.331/.490 slash line. Replacing Conforto on the Giants’ active roster was Luis Matos, a consensus top-100 prospect in 2022.
Now that Conforto is on the brink of a return, he won’t be the only player who’s coming back from rehab assignments. Austin Slater, who will have a longer rehab due to a concussion, was 3-for-13 entering Sunday’s games. Shortstop Nick Ahmed, who’s been out with a wrist sprain since May 10, went 0-for-3 Saturday as he started his assignment. Pitcher Keaton Winn will be headed to Sacramento on Tuesday. Re-inserting Conforto’s bat and Ahmed’s glove could give the Giants another jolt to the lineup.
Who Is the Odd Man Out?
The returns of Ahmed and Slate could come later this week. It will put the Giants in a tough decision as they will have to move out a player or two. Matos will likely stay in the majors as Jung Hoo Lee‘s replacement in center field. Matos entered Sunday batting .136 since his move to the leadoff spot, but his defense has been tremendous of late. Ideally, Conforto and Slater’s return may push Heliot Ramos out of the roster, for now. Ramos, 24, is batting .278 for the season with two home runs in 22 games since his arrival on May 8.
Scouts wonder about Ramos’ long-term viability at the plate. Ramos can get pull-happy and while he’s .343 off the fastball, his .200 average against off-speed pitches raises eyebrows.
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