SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants announced ahead of their first game against the team formerly known as the Oakland A’s that they’ve reinstated second baseman Tyler Fitzgerald from the 10-day injured list.
In a corresponding move, the team has optioned infielder Brett Wisely to Triple-A Sacramento. Fitzgerald is slated to hit ninth and start at second base on Friday.
“Very lucky to have this in the past and hopefully just move on from this and get going again,” said Fitzgerald, who has a .284 batting average with two homers and five steals this season. “It wasn’t too long. Could’ve been worse.”
Fitzgerald suffered a left rib fracture on April 25 against the Texas Rangers after he dove for a ball, describing the play as “really awkward” and saying he felt like he landed on the ball. He took the rest of the series off against the Rangers and played through the injury during the Giants’ two-game set against the Padres — losing his two torpedo bats in the process.
Following the sweep, the Giants placed him on the injured list. Shortly after being placed on the injured list, Fitzgerald described the injury as it “kind of feels like you’re getting stabbed on every little movement.”
“When I played through it, I could barely swing,” Fitzgerald said on Friday. “I don’t feel it right now. 100 percent different. San Diego was tough to even play through it. Not feeling it since Monday is really encouraging. Didn’t feel it at all in (Sacramento).”
In three games with Sacramento, Fitzgerald went 3-for-10 with three RBIs. Fitzgerald said he usually takes a while to get his swing back, but Fitzgerald said he felt “pretty on time” during his little time with the River Cats.
Fitzgerald had a .546 OPS in his first 10 games to begin the season, but beginning with a two-hit game against the New York Yankees, he posted a .920 OPS in the 15 games before heading to the injured list. In Philadelphia, Fitzgerald recorded a pair of three-hit games, finishing a single shy of the cycle in one.
“It’s nice to get him back,” said manager Bob Melvin. “(Christian) Koss did a great job in the interim. Hopefully we have a couple more coming (off the injured list) this month too, but it’s good to get Fitzy back.”
With Fitzgerald back from the injured list, infielder Casey Schmitt (left oblique strain) and infielder/outfielder Jerar Encarnacion (left hand fracture) are next in line to return from the injured list. Encarnacion and Schmitt began their rehab assignments with Triple-A Sacramento on May 10 and May 13, respectively.
Neither Encarnacion or Schmitt has played much since beginning their rehab assignments. Encarnacion, who was in the Giants’ clubhouse on Friday, has only played two games while Schmitt has only played one. Encarnacion, who will primarily play first base upon returning, is currently on the 60-day injured list and eligible to return on May 26.
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“He felt a little soreness swinging, which I’m not sure it’s completely out of the norm,” Melvin said of Encarnacion. “He tells me he’s fine. Doctors wanted to see him here. Hopefully he’s playing in the next day or so. We still have some time.”
Said Fitzgerald of Schmitt: “He’s been looking good. The oblique is a little more serious than my rib injury. He’ll have to take it a little bit slower than me, but hopefully after this weekend — I don’t know, I’m not a doctor but hopefully he’ll be back here pretty soon.”