Giants bring back Duggar for OF defense

The Giants bolstered their outfield defense by recalling Steven Duggar from the alternate training site and optioning right-hander Dereck Rodríguez prior to Monday’s series opener against the Angels.

Duggar did not fly down to Southern California with the Giants on their charter flight on Sunday and instead made the six-hour drive from Sacramento on Monday. Manager Gabe Kapler said he hoped Duggar would be able to arrive shortly before game time at Angel Stadium.

The Giants’ decision to add Duggar to their roster partly reflects the status of fellow outfielder Austin Slater, who has not been cleared to play defense since sustaining a flexor strain in his right elbow last week. Slater is officially classified as day to day and is available to hit and pinch-run, though Kapler declined to say whether he has resumed throwing.

“He’s capable of hitting for us right now,” Kapler said. “We can DH him. We’re sort of managing when to get him his at-bats and also how to get him as healthy as possible as quickly as possible.”

The Giants’ need for more late-inning defensive replacements in the outfield became apparent on Saturday night, when right fielder Hunter Pence misplayed a fly ball from A’s second baseman Tony Kemp, allowing it to fall for a double and setting the table for a second consecutive ninth-inning meltdown by the bullpen.

“I think it’s not about one person,” Kapler said. “It’s not about one defender. Slater is a speedy defender with a good arm. You can stick him anywhere in the outfield and know that he’s going to do just fine. I think the same thing can be said for Duggar. This is not an indictment on any one individual. It was an opportunity for us to upgrade our outfield defense on the bench.”

Rodríguez, who surrendered five runs over 1 2/3 innings against the A’s on Sunday, will remain on the Giants’ taxi squad, but his absence will leave the club without a traditional long man in their bullpen.

It’s a suboptimal situation for the Giants, who are starting Tyler Anderson and Trevor Cahill over the next two days. The two veterans aren’t as built up as the rest of San Francisco’s rotation, as they are filling in for Drew Smyly (left index finger sprain) and Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder inflammation), but Kapler said he believes the Giants have enough fresh arms in the bullpen to cover innings if necessary.

“We’ve got some coverage,” Kapler said. “This isn’t a perfect world and we’re going to get through this as a group, together.”

The Giants are expecting Samardzija to begin a throwing program on Wednesday. Smyly is also progressing in his rehab and continues to throw off flat ground.