Bericoto, 24, joined the team before the home series against the White Sox begins, the Chronicle confirmed in advance of the team placing Lee on the 10-day injured list Friday evening. The move was backdated to Tuesday, so Lee will be eligible to return Friday at Colorado.
Bericoto was batting .299 at Triple-A Sacramento after hitting .419 with three homers in Cactus League play and turning in strong work in the outfield — manager Tony Vitello compared his arm to Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s at one point.
“I just like the way he goes about his business,” Vitello said. “He’s ultra low maintenance, he’s a good listener, but the biggest thing is for him, he’s a hitter. He’s just very hitter-ish. … He’s kind of picked up where he left off from spring training and done very well in Sacramento.”
Lee missed the final two games at Arizona this week with back spasms and had been expected back for the series against Chicago; Vitello said Lee was feeling better, but it was unclear when he might be back in the lineup, with left fielder Heliot Ramos already on the injured list with a quad strain and, perhaps, a need for another right-handed bat, Bericoto was the choice.
This is Bericoto’s first big league call-up, so whenever he gets into a game, he’ll make his major-league debut. Bericoto was not in the starting lineup Friday.
One of the Giants’ increasing number of excellent Venezuelan prospects, Bericoto broke through with a .340 average in the Venezuelan winter league this offseason, firmly planting him on the team’s radar, though he is not ranked among San Francisco’s top prospects per MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. He can play all three outfield positions and first base.
Ramos received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, the Giants said Friday, which potentially could lessen his time on the IL, which initially was projected to be several weeks.
Briefly: Logan Webb (knee) went 3 1/3 innings in a rehab appearances at Sacramento and allowed two hits, three walks and an unearned run (the error in the inning was his) and struck out two. He threw 62 pitches, 34 strikes; it’s expected to be just one appearance there, then Webb would rejoin the rotation next week, likely Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. … Third-base coach Hector Borg returned to the Dominican Republic after the death of his grandmother and former third-base coach Ron Washington will fill in through the weekend.