Injuries & Moves: Sandoval released; Ahmed, Roupp selected
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March 28: INF Pablo Sandoval released
Sandoval surprisingly reunited with the Giants on a Minor League deal during Spring Training, but he was viewed as a long shot to make the team and received an emotional sendoff at Oracle Park on Tuesday, which likely marked his final appearance in a Giants uniform. Sandoval said he has no immediate plans to retire and expressed a willingness to open the season at Triple-A Sacramento, but the Giants already have two other corner infielders -- Casey Schmitt and David Villar -- who will need everyday reps there.
March 28: INF Nick Ahmed, RHP Landen Roupp selected to the Major League roster; LHP Erik Miller recalled from Triple-A Sacramento; INF Marco Luciano, OF Luis Matos optioned to Triple-A Sacramento; RHP Daulton Jefferies reassigned to Triple-A Sacramento
Ahmed will serve as the Giants' Opening Day shortstop after beating out Luciano for the starting job this spring. Roupp and Miller both earned bullpen spots and could be in line to make their Major League debuts this weekend. Manager Bob Melvin described Matos as the toughest cut, but the 22-year-old Venezuelan could potentially be called up to fill in for Mike Yastrzemski, who is expected to go on paternity leave on Friday.
To clear spots for Ahmed and Roupp on the 40-man roster, the Giants placed left-hander Ethan Small (right oblique strain) on the 60-day injured list and designated catcher Cooper Hummel for assignment.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Alex Cobb (left hip surgery)
Expected return: Possibly early May
Cobb threw 40 pitches in a Minor League game at Papago Park on March 22, and according to manager Bob Melvin, the right-hander felt great afterward.
“He’s coming quicker than we originally anticipated, when that is I’m not 100% sure,” Melvin said. “He threw three innings, and pitched really well. Velo was good, breaking stuff was good; he’s on his way.”
Cobb was originally expected to be sidelined for six months after undergoing surgery on Oct. 31, but he's been ahead of schedule and could return to the Giants' rotation sooner rather than later. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on March 28, retroactive to March 25. (Last updated: March 28)
RHP Sean Hjelle (mild right elbow sprain)
Expected return: Possibly April
Hjelle was scheduled to throw a bullpen on March 23. Hjelle said he felt discomfort in his elbow following his outing against the A's on Feb. 28, though an MRI exam came back mostly clean. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on March 28, retroactive to March 25.
"There’s no structural damage, but I do have a sprain," Hjelle said on March 5. "So I’ve just got to do the due diligence and make sure it’s healthy and then be reevaluated and go from there." (Last updated: March 28)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Ethan Small (moderate right oblique strain)
Expected Return: Possibly late May
Small will rehab for several weeks after suffering a moderate right oblique strain. He was acquired from the Brewers over the offseason and was in the running for a bullpen spot before sustaining the injury. Small was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 28, so he won't be eligible to return until May 27 at the earliest. (Last updated: March 28)
LHP Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half
Ray threw a bullpen session on March 16, though he's still expected to be out until the second half of the 2024 season. The 32-year-old said that he felt good after his March 11 workouts and was happy with the progress he’s made.
“He’s doing great, but don’t get too caught up in getting Robbie Ray here quickly,” manager Bob Melvin said. “But [we’re] very encouraged that he’s touching a mound now, but there’s going to be multiple bullpens before we talk about him pitching, even in simulator or to hitters.”
Ray was acquired from the Mariners in exchange for outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on Jan. 5. (Last updated: March 16)
RHP Austin Warren (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: June or July
Warren was scheduled to throw a second bullpen session on March 16 (30 pitches). He began his progression on March 11 with a 25-pitch bullpen at Scottsdale Stadium. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $755,000 contract with the Giants on Feb. 14, though he will be unavailable for most of the first half while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. He could help boost the Giants' bullpen once he's healthy. He recorded a 3.55 ERA over 32 career appearances for the Angels from 2021-23. (Last updated: March 15)
RHP Tristan Beck (upper right arm aneurysm)
Expected return: Second half
Beck, 27, felt his hand go cold after throwing some bullpen sessions early in camp, prompting the Giants to send him back to San Francisco to be evaluated by team doctors on Feb. 27. He ended up visiting a vascular specialist at Stanford, who helped determine that an aneurysm -- an abnormal bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel -- was the source of the numbness. Beck underwent surgery at Stanford on March 4 to address the issue, which will rule him out for Opening Day and leave the Giants without their projected No. 5 starter.
Beck hopes to return to the mound before the end of the year, though he'll have a better sense of his recovery timeline after he comes out of the surgery. He is not expected to throw for eight weeks and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on March 3. (Last updated: March 5)