Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
It was probably going to be Mike Yastrzemski’s final at-bat before his at-bats became real, and it looked like a worst-case scenario. But the Giants are optimistic that it could have been much worse.
Yastrzemski was plunked on his left hand by Oakland’s Sean Manaea on Monday, immediately exiting the game and park and heading to Scottsdale to get X-rays.
It was a big worry, but the Giants hope and believe that is all it is.
“The medical staff is optimistic, as is the field staff,” Gabe Kapler said after the 7-2 victory over the A’s at Hohokam Stadium to conclude the exhibition season.
Before the third-inning at-bat, Yastrzemski was finishing up a solid spring training and batting second in a lineup that very well could be their Opening Day lineup on Thursday, when again they will face a lefty. Despite the southpaw Manaea, the lefty-hitting Yastrzemski was in the heart of the order because he hits everyone well. In the Cactus League, the 30-year-old went 12-for-40 (.300) with four home runs and has looked like the same player who got MVP votes last season.
He is immensely valuable to the Giants, who, behind him, would have the optioned LaMonte Wade Jr. or the righty-hitting Austin Slater if Yastrzemski can’t go. But there is hope that Yastrzemski can follow in Brandon Belt’s and Evan Longoria’s footsteps as concerns that were alleviated in time for April 1.
“From what I heard, it sounded a lot worse than what it is,” Brandon Crawford said over Zoom. “He seems to be OK, moving his fingers around OK. Don’t want to speak too soon, [but] he seems like he’s all right.”
It was the second straight day of worries at Giants camp, as Tommy La Stella was drilled Sunday and is day to day with a left knee contusion. La Stella was able to get a pinch-hit at-bat Monday, which is encouraging, though it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him sit Thursday against the Mariners’ Marco Gonzalez.