The Giants came into Wednesday night’s rubber match against the Dodgers without Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger. Two more outfielders didn’t make it through the game.
Both Michael Conforto and Bryce Johnson left Wednesday’s 10-5 loss to the Dodgers early with injuries. Johnson was diagnosed with a concussion and is likely heading to the injured list. Conforto is considered day-to-day with a left calf that tightened up on him in the first inning.
Conforto, who has hit three home runs in 11 games this year, got injured rounding third in the first inning when he scored on Darin Ruf’s double to center field. He said that head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner told him to let him know if it the pain subsides or if it gets tighter. As the game went on, the discomfort persisted.
“So it was kind of the voice of reason saying ‘let’s be smart on this, let’s not create a long rehab, not make it any worse than it already is,’” Conforto said postgame. “It’s frustrating.”
The right fielder “really didn’t want to come out of that game,” he said. For a guy who missed all of last season after getting shoulder surgery, getting taken away from a field at all can’t be easy.
Conforto stayed for another at-bat but then departed to the training room in the top of the fourth inning.
“It’s a long season,” Conforto said. “Got to make sure that I can stay on the field in the long run. So we’re just taking it day by day.”
Conforto didn’t get an MRI, but the team will react based on how he feels during Thursday’s off-day and before Friday’s game in Detroit, he said.
Johnson entered for Conforto and moved to center field. He immediately got tested by a JD Martinez fly ball over his head, and he crashed into the wall. Johnson didn’t make the play, and Martinez ended up with a triple.
The speedy centerfielder was undeterred by that encounter with the wall. Later in the inning, though, Johnson and the wall met again.
This time, Johnson made a spectacular grab to rob Freddie Freeman of extra bases. But it came with a hefty price.
Johnson stayed down on the warning track for a minute and trainers jogged out to him from the dugout. Mike Yastrzemski, playing right field, rushed over to check on him.
“Just wanted to obviously make sure he was okay,” Yastrzemski said. “Once I kind of recognized he was a little out of it — obviously that’s way above my pay grade. Tried to get somebody out there to make sure he was actually okay.”
Johnson was a little dizzy, Yastrzemski said. He was diagnosed with a concussion.
The former high school wide receiver is no stranger to collisions, but this one will send him to the injured list. Johnson was a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases during spring training — a total that led both spring leagues — and has flashed his speed in the bigs. Against the Royals, he scored a key run from first after sliding into second on a steal attempt.
When Johnson departed, the Giants brought LaMonte Wade Jr. off the bench to play right field and shifted Yastrzemski back to center field.
Johnson’s likely IL stint leaves the Giants with Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos as the lone two true outfielders who are completely healthy. Conforto could be gimpy, Blake Sabol can play outfield but is primarily a catcher, ditto for first baseman Wade and infielder Thairo Estrada. For defensive purposes, the Giants should do whatever they can to avoid putting Darin Ruf and Joc Pederson in the outfield. Neither Haniger nor Slater are expected to return during San Francisco’s six-game road trip.
The injuries may open opportunities for players on the 40-man like Brett Wisely and Matt Beaty.
“Bryce obviously had an unbelievable camp and has really shown what kind of player he can be,” Yastrzemski said. “He’s so versatile. It’s tough to see someone who you’re pulling for so hard go down with something like that. Hopefully he’ll be back soon.”
