Injury Updates for Key Starters
The San Francisco Giants encountered a pair of injury concerns before and during their Cactus League matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium. They were reported on by Giants beat reporter Maria Guardado of MLB.com.
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First baseman Rafael Devers was scratched shortly before first pitch due to left hamstring tightness. Manager Tony Vitello explained that the discomfort appeared during pregame defensive work, prompting a precautionary decision to keep him out of the lineup.
Center fielder Harrison Bader exited after the first inning with a right thumb contusion. Bader had been dealing with the issue for several days and attempted to play through it before being removed.
“He’s good,” Vitello said of Bader. “It was something we had kept an eye on for a few days. I don’t want to mislabel what day he had some discomfort in his thumb, a little bit of a contusion there, but he always wants to play. We gave it a go today. Better safe than sorry this time of year.”
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Both players were already scheduled for a rest day and could return Sunday against the San Diego Padres.
Bader, who recently signed a two-year deal with San Francisco, is also preparing to represent Team Israel in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Robbie Ray Working Through Delivery Adjustments
Left-hander Robbie Ray continues to refine his mechanics after returning from Tommy John surgery in 2023, which affected his consistency early in camp.
Ray acknowledged he struggled to find rhythm in his spring debut against the Chicago Cubs and has since worked closely with pitching coaches Justin Meccage and Christian Wonders to correct the issue.
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“We’ve been losing sleep over it, trying to figure out what it is,” Ray said. “I feel like the biggest thing is I’ve been dumping my back hip, which has caused my arm to hike up, which kind of counteracts everything that I do because it actually lowers my release point. My pitch shapes are bad when I do that. My bullpens have been terrible.”
Ray showed improvement in his latest outing, allowing only an RBI triple to James Tibbs III, who is now part of the Dodgers’ organization.
“I’ve been fighting it for a while,” Ray said. “Today, I feel like I made a pretty big step in the right direction.”
Luis Arraez Departs for International Play
Infielder Luis Arraez played five innings in his final spring appearance before leaving for Miami to join Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic alongside reliever José Buttó.
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“I’m ready to go,” Arraez said. “I’m going to miss my teammates, but I have something to do for my city. I’m really excited. I feel good, I feel healthy. I can’t wait to get to Miami and especially see my family, too.”
Despite being new to the roster, Arraez said the transition into the clubhouse has already felt natural.
“I feel this is my family already,” Arraez said. “As soon as I got here, they opened the doors for me.”
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