Vosler optioned to clear spot for Cueto

The Giants optioned infielder Jason Vosler to Triple-A Sacramento to clear a spot on the 26-man roster for right-hander Johnny Cueto, who returned from the injured list to start against the Padres on Sunday at Oracle Park.

Vosler, 27, has appeared in eight games for the Giants since making his Major League debut last month, going 2-for-14 with one RBI and one stolen base. Manager Gabe Kapler said he spoke with Vosler on Sunday morning and told him the Giants felt it would be in his best interest to get more consistent reps in the Minors.

“We just said, ‘Look, this is not about your at-bat quality,’” Kapler said. “‘I understand that we haven’t really given you a long string or run of at-bats to be able to get where you need to be.’ He completely understood that perspective.”

Kapler said Vosler requested to receive more pinch-hit at-bats in the Minors, as he’s still adjusting to being used off the bench for the first time in his career. Vosler has already sought advice from Giants veterans like Darin Ruf, but Kapler said he offered to share his own view on the role as well.

“I offered up a conversation when he comes back or in the interim to talk about pinch-hitting because I did a lot of that in my own career, and I want to be able to share that sort of experience with a guy like Vos. He was a total pro about it.”

Cueto, 35, missed nearly a month with a Grade 1 lat strain. His last start was April 14. He went just three innings in Sunday's 11-1 loss to the Padres, allowing five runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Vosler and outfielder Steven Duggar have been among the Giants players who have already shuttled between the Majors and Triple-A Sacramento over the first month of the regular season. It can be difficult for a player to find a rhythm at the plate when he's going back and forth, but Duggar has quietly gone 7-for-25 (.280) with two doubles over his first nine games with the Giants.

With fellow left-handed-hitting outfielders Alex Dickerson and LaMonte Wade Jr. on the IL, Duggar has been receiving more consistent looks and is attempting to make the most of the opportunity.

“I was pretty happy with some of the progress I made in the offseason,” Duggar said. “And then, obviously, coming into camp, just refining some things with [hitting coaches Justin Viele and Donnie Ecker] and those guys. There were a few weeks of camp where I wasn’t super comfortable, but obviously, some of that comes with timing. The more at-bats you get, the more comfortable you feel in the box. Really since the alternate site kicked off, and up until this point, I’ve felt pretty relaxed, pretty confident and pretty comfortable.”

Solano update

Kapler said Donovan Solano joked on Sunday morning that he’s ready to steal bases, a sign that the veteran second baseman is progressing from his right calf strain. Kapler said Solano took ground balls at a high-intensity level on Saturday, but his return from the IL doesn’t appear imminent. Kapler said the Giants’ medical staff feels that Solano will need to go on a rehab assignment and complete a game progression in the Minors before he’s ready to return.