First Brandon Belt, then Joey Bart, now Austin Slater?
The Giants’ starting center fielder left Tuesday night’s game against the Padres in the top of the third inning. He’d appeared to injure his finger on a first-inning slide into second base.
Slater tried to steal second in the first inning, but Padres pitcher Blake Snell picked him off. Slater was already halfway down the base path then, but got cut down despite a headfirst slide into second.
On the slide, Slater jammed his left pinky finger on the bag.
Slater returned to the field for the second inning but never looked comfortable. Between pitches, he frequently removed his glove or hunched over with his hands on his knees.
When Mike Yastrzemski replaced Slater to begin the third inning, the Padres and Giants were still tied, 0-0.
The Giants haven’t caught a break on the injury front recently.
First baseman Brandon Belt is already on the injured list with a knee injury and is considering surgery that would likely end his 2022 season. Joey Bart, meanwhile, hit the 7-day concussion IL before Tuesday’s game.
Slater has been one of San Francisco’s most productive players in 2022, registering 1.2 WAR and a .771 OPS.
