Jerar Encarnacion sustained a fractured left hand while diving for a ball in the Giants’ Cactus League game yesterday, the team told reporters (including Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle). More testing will be done to explore the full extent of the injury, but Encarnacion will certainly be starting the year on the Giants’ injured list.
Encarnacion was removed from the game with what was initially described a jammed left ring finger, though the first round of scans revealed the more serious hand fracture. As noted by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the fact that Encarnacion is getting more tests could hint that surgery might be required, which would mean an even longer stint on the sidelines for the 27-year-old.
It’s a tough setback for a player who was viewed as a strong candidate to earn the bulk of the Giants’ DH at-bats. Encarnacion was hitting .302/.309/.547 with two homers over 55 Spring Training plate appearances, building on the power he displayed over 119 PA (.248/.277/.425) at the MLB level last season. As a right-handed hitter, Encarnacion also could’ve found playing time as a complement to the left-handed hitting LaMonte Wade Jr. at first base, or for Mike Yastrzemski in right field.
With Encarnacion now out of action, Slusser figures both Luis Matos and Grant McCray have a path to breaking camp with the Giants. Matos is a right-handed hitter who can now perhaps slide into the role of spelling Yaz against southpaws, while Wilmer Flores should split time with Wade when Flores isn’t also getting a good chunk of DH time. Jung Hoo Lee has been bothered by a bad back in the late stages of San Francisco’s camp, and while Lee’s issue isn’t thought to be too serious, his potential absence along with Encarnacion’s injury might leave the Giants with a couple of sudden roster holes to address as Opening Day approaches.
