SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jerar Encarnacion was positioned to make an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, no small feat given how his career has unfolded.
He played six seasons in the minors before making his major-league debut. He ended up in the Mexican League, where he hit 19 homers in 26 games. He parlayed that heater into a minor-league contract with the Giants, impressed during his little time with the team last season and emerged as a favorite to win a spot on the bench.
But after suffering a hairline fracture in his left ring finger when diving for a ball that will keep him out for at least four-to-five weeks, Encarnacion will need to wait one more year to experience his first Opening Day.
“I don’t feel disappointed at all. I think it’s God’s plan that this happened,” Encarnacion said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “So, the only thing I can do is just continue. I know that I can do the job when the time comes.”
As things stand, it’s looking like Encarnacion’s time will be sometime in May or June, though the team has yet to determine a timetable. Per manager Bob Melvin, the Giants will receive an update on Sunday. When asked if surgery is a possibility, Melvin responded that “anything’s on the table.”
“He was putting himself in a position to get quite a few at-bats. And rightly so,” Melvin said. “Based on what we saw last year, based on what we saw this spring, there’s a lot to like: the power dynamic, he can play the infield a little bit at first, play the outfield, DH. Sometimes, it’s tough for guys to DH and he was good at it. So, this stings some. And I feel bad for him because the road he’s taken to get to the big leagues, this is probably going to be as good of an opportunity as he’s ever had.”
There’s never a great time to sustain an injury, but the timing of Encarnacion’s ailment is especially unfortunate given how well he was performing. In the Dominican Winter League, Encarnacion hit four home runs and totaled 27 RBIs with a .297 batting average for Aguilas Cibaenas. That momentum carried into Cactus League play, where he hit .302 with two home runs, a team-high 14 RBIs and a .856 OPS.
“It’s only one finger. I still have my other hand. I still have the rest of my body and my legs,” Encarnacion said. “I can do some things to stay ready.”
With Encarnacion out for the foreseeable future, the Giants have less than a week to determine who fills out the bench alongside catcher Sam Huff, outfielder Luis Matos and infielder Brett Wisely. The list of candidates to Encarnacion’s spot include infielders David Villar, Casey Schmitt and Jake Lamb, as well as outfielders Grant McCray and Marco Luciano. San Francisco will also have to decide whether to put Encarnacion on the 60-day injured list, which would open up a spot on the 40-man roster.
As far as DH, specifically, Matos could see time at DH along with Wilmer Flores, who was likely to get the starting nod on Opening Day from the start due to his veteran status. Matos, a right-handed hitter, will also platoon with right fielder Mike Yastrzemski, a left-handed hitter. And if Matos spends more time at DH than anticipated, McCray would make sense as a bench option to play the outfield.
Matt Chapman, 31, and Willy Adames, 29, could also have an occasional game at DH, though Melvin said they both prefer to play the field. Left fielder Heliot Ramos could get the occasional DH game as well.
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Villar, 28, is out of minor-league options, which means the Giants would have to designate him for assignment if they don’t put him on the 40-man roster. Putting Villar on the Opening Day roster would allow the Giants to keep him in the organization, but the Giants appear to be favoring other options.
“He’s out of options, so there’s the potential that someone picks him up if he doesn’t make the roster and goes somewhere and flourishes,” Melvin said. “That has happened before, and he has the ability to do that.”
Lee resumes baseball activities
Jung Hoo Lee resumed baseball activities after being sidelined for a week with a back injury, a list of tasks that included hitting, throwing to bases and taking fly balls. The expectation is that Lee plays in Sunday’s exhibition against the Sacramento River Cats, per Melvin.
“If everything goes well tomorrow and in the Tigers’ series, I think there’s a good chance he could start in Cincinnati,” Melvin said.
Lee, who has a .967 OPS with two homers this spring, said on Friday that he sees Opening Day as “realistic.” Melvin said he would be most comfortable with Lee playing in three games before Opening Day; the Giants have three exhibition games remaining, exactly, on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
