SAN FRANCISCO — As if the Giants’ season couldn’t become more cursed.
Luis Arraez, one of the few bright spots and San Francisco’s top trade chip, fouled a ball off his foot Tuesday night and was forced to exit the Giants’ series opener against the A’s.
Luis Arraez reacts after hitting a foul ball into his leg in the bottom of the first inning against the Athletics at Oracle Park. Getty ImagesThe good news is that Arraez appears to have averted the worst.
Only “a little sore,” according to manager Tony Vitello.
X-Rays came back clean, Vitello said after the 3-1 win. He is considered day-to-day.
“If he can go (Wednesday), he’ll go,” Vitello said. “We’ll touch base with him in the morning.”
Arraez was wearing a shin guard in his first-inning at-bat against Aaron Civale, but the ricochet off his bat apparently missed the protective gear as the Giants’ second baseman was clearly in pain. The game was paused while Vitello and a trainer checked on him.
“I think (J.T.) Realmuto got his in that exact same spot, right on the arch,” Vitello said. “He’s as tough as they come too and it was like an inning [he stayed in the game] and he had to go. Then he couldn’t go the next couple days. It’ll be interesting to see how the swelling is in the morning.”
Arraez initially remained in the game. He finished the at-bat, flying out to left, but had a noticeable limp as he made his way up the first base line.
He stayed in the game, even ripping his customary single on a line drive on the ninth pitch of his next at-bat, until the top of the fifth. Casey Schmitt, who started the game in left field, took over at second base.
“He always wants to be out there. The good thing is he’s honest with us,” Vitello said. “It was tightening up right away, but he stayed out there and got a base hit. … He just needed to come out.”
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez talks with manager Tony Vitello and a trainer after fouling off a ball of his foot during the first inning against the Athletics at Oracle Park. Sergio Estrada-Imagn ImagesIt ended up being a good outcome given an injury to Arraez couldn’t have come at a worse time, just over a month out from MLB’s trade deadline. The Giants, 15 games below .500 entering Tuesday, are obvious sellers, and with Arreaz’s stellar two-way play on a one-year deal, he is a clear candidate to be moved.
Not only has the three-time batting champ reclaimed his position among the league’s best hitters for average, the notoriously poor defender has been a revelation at second base.
The combination of those qualities could entice a contender to part with a considerable package of prospects to acquire his services for the stretch run. The bloated contracts and underperformance of the Giants’ other trade candidates means Arraez could net them a better return than Matt Chapman, Willy Adames or Rafael Devers.
Had X-Rays revealed the worst, the Giants may not have gotten the chance to cash in.
