Crawford (left knee inflammation) heads to 10-day IL
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CINCINNATI -- After sitting during the first two games of the Giants’ series against the Reds, shortstop Brandon Crawford was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday (retroactive to Monday) with left knee inflammation. It’s his second IL stint this season after battling a right calf strain in May.
Manager Gabe Kapler said that Crawford has been dealing with knee soreness periodically since Spring Training, but he had been managing it since then.
Though Kapler didn’t have an exact time table for Crawford, the shortstop’s IL stint is expected to be short term. Crawford is eligible to come off the IL on July 27, a Giants off-day following the road trip and two games at home against Oakland.
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“[Crawford] tested it out a little bit earlier today, and we just decided that it was best to get him this blow and have him back ready hopefully after this off-day when we get back from this road trip,” Kapler said. “We have Oakland, we have an off-day. Hopefully, [he's] good to go right after that.
“We'll just have to kind of read and react as we see how he recovers for the first couple of days.”
In Crawford’s absence, the Giants have an abundance of young infield talent that could take over the shortstop role. Casey Schmitt has played 30 games at short this season, including Monday and Tuesday and the five games between his May 9 callup and Crawford’s May 14 return from his calf strain.
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Brett Wisely has never made an MLB appearance at shortstop, but he’s played there in the Minors over the past two seasons.
David Villar, who was recalled on Wednesday, is not a shortstop, but he has Major League experience at the other three infield positions. Being able to move him around gives Kapler and the Giants flexibility to move Schmitt, Wisely or other players around as needed.
“We have lots of options for how to cover the shortstop spot,” Kapler said. “I’m sure Casey will get a good amount of reps. Wisely can play short. We're going to start prepping him for that.”
Villar is now up with the Giants for the fourth time this season. In 40 games over his previous three stints, the 26-year-old is batting .159 with five home runs and 12 RBIs.