SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants were rained out of yesterday’s game, but that likely won’t be an issue for Will Smith and Jeff Samardzija. They’re headed to Arizona and will pitch in an extended spring game as a part of their rehabilitation schedules.
“[On] Monday, Will Smith will start that game in extended spring,” Bochy said. “Samardzija will get some work in and come back and join us.”
For Smith, this outing is a step towards meeting his expected return date of May 1. After being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016, he only appeared in 26 games for the Giants, where he put up a 2.95 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched, before undergoing Tommy John surgery last offseason. He missed all of last season and is in the final year of his contract.
As for Samardzija, he hit the disabled list with a strained pectoral muscle after pitching 11 innings this spring. He’s yet to make his 2018 debut, but Bochy is confident that Samardzija isn’t too far from returning to the rotation.
“He’s doing well,” Bochy said about Samardzija. “He’s doing really well. I know he’s looking forward to this. He’ll probably make another one and then be set to go.”
For more Giants videos, click here.