SAN FRANCISCO -- Buster Posey is back.

As expected, the Giants activated the veteran catcher off the 10-day injured list Wednesday and optioned rookie Aramis Garcia to Triple-A Sacramento. Posey, who missed eight games with a right hamstring strain, started behind the plate and batted cleanup in the club's series finale against the Padres.

"This guy means a lot," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Just having his presence there, he extends your lineup. He's your guy. Every team has a guy in your lineup that if he's gone, he's going to be the one they're going to miss more than anybody. I think that's fair to say that would be Buster for us."

Before landing on the IL on June 5, Posey had reached base safely in 11 of his previous 22 plate appearances. Overall, he is batting .257 with a .729 OPS over 46 games this season.

First baseman Brandon Belt also returned to the starting lineup Wednesday after sitting out the previous two games with a stomach virus and neck soreness (though he did enter Tuesday's game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, earning a walk and scoring on Evan Longoria's two-run double).

Young update
Giants pitching coach Curt Young, who has been away from the team since undergoing knee surgery on May 31, remains on the mend, but he could visit Oracle Park this weekend to check in with the club's doctors. Young is currently recuperating in Arizona.

"I talked to Curt," Bochy said. "He's coming along. I'm sure it's slower than he would have hoped, but it's what the doctors thought. It's going to take a little time with him. There's a chance he could be here this weekend, but not in the dugout. He'll come out here and spend a couple days, have our docs look at him. He's making progress."

Bullpen coach Matt Herges is serving as the Giants' acting pitching coach for now. The club also added Triple-A pitching coach Steve Kline to its staff to assume the interim bullpen coach role.