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Heliot Ramos was not expected to be an option for the Giants, at least at the onset of this season, but his chances of debuting later this year may have taken a hit.
The 20-year-old top prospect has a leg infection, Gabe Kapler said Saturday, that will keep him off the field. Kapler did not want to speculate on a timetable, though he said he doesn’t “expect it to be months.”
“I’m always concerned when our players are not well. I don’t have a long-term concern,” the Giants manager said on a Zoom call.
The severity of the infection is unclear, but it’s likely Ramos will be delayed in heading to Sacramento to join the rest of the taxi squad. The satellite camp is expected to open in conjunction with the regular season, Kapler said, so it should be up and running by Thursday.
Ramos, who played alongside Joey Bart for much of last season and appeared in 25 Double-A Richmond games, was surprisingly not invited to February’s major league camp, though he made impressions when he was called up, homering and showing off a live arm before a mild oblique strain sidelined him.
The 20-year-old has fit in nicely at camp 2.0 and, if he heals well, has an outside shot at debuting this season.
Evan Longoria fielded ground balls and took some light swings but still has “a little trouble bending to his right,” Kapler said.
Longoria, who has a moderate right oblique strain, still has a shot to play Opening Day, though it wouldn’t surprise if the Giants were cautious with him.
“Definitely moving in the right direction,” Kapler said.
Brandon Belt, meanwhile, was set to be the designated hitter in Saturday’s intrasquad matchup. The first baseman, recovering from right heel soreness that put him in a walking boot, will not run the bases, though.
Jose Siri, an outfielder on the 40-man roster the Giants recently invited to camp, showed off both his speed and a cannon for an arm in his first intrasquad scrimmage Friday. Kapler referred to the former Reds prospect, whom hitting coach Donnie Ecker coached, as “super tooled up.”
“The speed is real,” Kapler said, adding his arm strength is “incredible.”
“We’ve all been aware of the power. I think the only thing that’s been holding him from becoming an everyday major league player is the whiff, is the swing-and-miss. And I think that’s going to be the focus for Siri going forward. He really does have all the tools necessary to be a great major league player.”
Kapler on Pablo Sandoval: “He’s taken as good of swings as anybody in camp. He’s worked his tail off around the bags, first base and third base. He’s good to go.”
The Giants have off Sunday with no scrimmage scheduled. Monday will begin exhibition play in Oakland before Tuesday’s game at Oracle Park.
Kapler declined to announce the pitchers who will appear in the games. All that has been publicly determined is Johnny Cueto, who was pitching in Saturday’s scrimmage, will start in Thursday’s season opener.