ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Chapman will meet a specialist next week for a full evaluation of the abdominal strain that has sidelined him for more than a month, and there’s a possibility the Giants third baseman doesn’t play another game this season.
Chapman underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed a core muscle injury and will fly to Philadelphia next week to meet Dr. William Meyers. Manager Tony Vitello said surgery is on the table, which would end Chapman’s season, but he hopes the issue can be resolved with rest and rehab.
Chapman, who hasn’t played since June 30, spoke with reporters in San Diego last week about his injury. The Giants originally anticipated Chapman would return last weekend, but he has continued to experience discomfort while running.
“The plan was for me to try to be able to be ready to play this weekend,” Chapman said last Saturday. “Unfortunately, we’ve been trying to push it to get me ready and trying to run at game speed. Running has been something that hasn’t felt great. It’s not the place where I can be able to be of help to the team.”
The Giants (48-65) entered Tuesday sitting 17 games below .500 after just trading away six major-league players — Luis Arraez, Robbie Ray, Heliot Ramos, Tyler Mahle, Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian — at the deadline. With San Francisco clearly out of contention, the team has no incentive to rush the 33-year-old Chapman’s return to the field.
While Chapman won’t play anytime soon, rookie Bryce Eldridge expects to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Rangers.
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Eldridge hasn’t started San Francisco’s last two games due to swelling in his left thumb, an injury he originally sustained last Wednesday during the Giants’ 16-3 win over Milwaukee. The 21-year-old recalled getting jammed a couple of times against the Brewers’ Aaron Ashby. His thumb worsened on Sunday against the Padres, but the swelling has since started to subside.
“Sunday, it was pretty fat,” Eldridge said. “They just want it to calm down.”
While Eldridge’s thumb still isn’t 100 percent, the same can’t be said of his wit.
“I was actually supposed to tell you guys they’re saving me for a late-game pinch-running opportunity,” said Eldridge, who ranks in the 22nd percentile of sprint speed. “I forgot about that, but there you go.”
“He’s forced our hand a little bit,” Vitello said. “I know it’s what you guys want and what the fans want. We’ve treated him almost like a 10-year big leaguer, and if anything, I think a little bit of a breather was good.”
In more encouraging news on the injury front, outfielder Victor Bericoto is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday. With Ramos having been traded, there should be plenty of opportunities awaiting Bericoto in left field once he returns from his left oblique strain.
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Worth noting
- Marcelo Mayer, acquired on Monday from the Boston Red Sox, will report to San Francisco for an evaluation. He hasn’t played since June 25 due to a bone stress reaction to the left ulna.
- Trevor McDonald is scheduled to undergo UCL reconstruction surgery in Dallas on Wednesday.
- Jesús Rodríguez (right elbow neuritis) will be re-evaluated at the end of the week when the team returns to San Francisco.
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