Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Just when it seemed like the Giants’ injury situation was peak awful, it got Evan worse.
The Giants placed Evan Longoria on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder sprain following his collision with Brandon Crawford on Saturday, and the valuable third baseman is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. He might not be seen again until after the All-Star break.
The Giants called up infielder Thairo Estrada with the corresponding move and said Crawford, who also looked to be shaken up after the infielders crashed into each other vying for a ninth-inning ground ball, is OK.
Longoria has dealt with a litany of issues all season, which began following a spring training that saw him barely take the field because of plantar fasciitis. There were bouts of hamstring tightness and side tightness, but nothing forced him to miss extended time until the smash and his left (non-throwing) shoulder getting crushed.
The 35-year-old has been a force all season and steadying presence defensively, where he has been his usual outstanding self. Offensively, he is seeing a similar tick-up to Buster Posey and Crawford and was slashing .280/.376/.516 in 186 plate appearances. The Giants have wanted to give him more time off against tough righties, but they haven’t been able to often because of his value on both sides.
“It’s very difficult. It was an emotional time after the game for Longo, for all of us,” Gabe Kapler said Sunday, before the series finale with the Cubs at Oracle Park. “He was swinging the bat very well. He was very patient at the plate, playing great defense, and one of the core pieces and leaders on this club. And it’s going to be a major challenge to fill his shoes.”
The manager mentioned lefty-hitting Jason Vosler and righty-hitting Wilmer Flores as potential fill-ins. Estrada, who was sizzling with Sacramento, is more of a middle infielder and utility player.
The Giants, who own the best record in baseball at 37-21, have weathered every injury blow that has been dealt. Longoria becomes the 15th player on the IL, joining Brandon Belt, Mike Yastrzemski, Tommy La Stella, Darin Ruf and Curt Casali as position-player contributors. The losses of Aaron Sanchez and Logan Webb have dented their rotation, too.
And yet, they have kept rolling through step-ups from players like Steven Duggar, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Vosler, and they hope Estrada will join that list.
Crawford and Posey have been the most crucial players on the club this season, but Longoria does not lag far behind. One man down — literally, as Longoria lay still on the dirt after Saturday’s crash — and the Giants hope another man emerges.
