San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence suffered a hamstring injury Friday. It's unclear when he'll return to the field.
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Bochy Comments on Pence Injury
Saturday, Aug. 27
Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters Pence could return to the lineup Tuesday but cautioned the outfielder could push to return sooner than that.
Injury-Prone Pence Still a Productive Offensive Force
This is a concerning setback for Pence because injuries have hampered him during the last two years. He played in only 52 games in 2015 after starting the season on the disabled list because of a fractured left forearm. He also suffered a hamstring injury earlier this season that forced him to miss time.
Thus far, Pence has hit .273 with eight home runs and 41 RBI in 2016 after hitting .275 with nine home runs and 40 RBI last year.
When healthy, Pence is an important part of the San Francisco lineup. He is a three-time All-Star and boasted seven straight years with at least 20 home runs before his injury-plagued 2015. Pence also has two seasons with a batting average above .300 and six seasons with double-digit stolen bases on his resume.
If Pence misses significant time, the Giants will likely turn to Gorkys Hernandez.
Hernandez played in a mere eight games for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season and saw five at-bats. He did hit three homers in 2012 and will likely get more of an opportunity to prove himself at the major league level while Pence recovers.
Still, the Giants are on the short list of National League teams with realistic World Series aspirations, and they could use a healthy Pence anchoring the lineup on a daily basis down the stretch.
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