Nick Ahmed, Austin Slater, and Michael Conforto were sent to Sacramento by the San Francisco Giants for a rehab assignment. Conforto and Slater are both anticipated to make a quick comeback, but Bob Melvin revealed to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area that Ahmed had a small setback.
2 SF As Giants veterans get closer to playing again, Nick Ahmed had a setback.
The Giants may benefit from the contributions made by all three of these veterans. Before pulling his hamstring, Conforto was one of the Giants’ finest hitters at the plate. In 154 plate appearances, he put up a.280/.331/.490 line with seven home runs, 20 RBI, and 19 runs scored. This includes a.210 ISO, a 20.8 strikeout rate, and a 7.1 percent walk rate.
It’s difficult to replace that productivity lost at the plate. Nevertheless, Heliot Ramos has stepped in admirably, playing strong left field defense and recording a.757 OPS in 88 bat appearances. Even if and when the roster regains its full strength, Ramos has earned playing time based on his performance.
Conversely, Luis Matos has had a difficult time since taking home the Player of the Week award in May. With two home runs and twenty RBI in 82 plate appearances, he has a.577 OPS. Although the 22-year-old outfielder has experience playing center field, it seems as though his status on the roster is more precarious. One possibility is to have Mike Yastrzemski fill in for Ramos or Conforto in right field.
Austin Slater was having a rough stretch before he was put on the injured list because of a concussion. For San Francisco, the eight-year veteran has been a dependable bench, but his issues at the plate extend beyond this season. He doesn’t have a set position right now, but perhaps the Giants will bring him back.
The moment Ahmed was placed on the injured list, the Giants’ shortstop defense clearly regressed. At shortstop in baseball, they have made 10 mistakes, which is tied for second most. It’s noteworthy that in May, shortstops for the Giants have been worth -6 Outs Above Average (OAA). That and Ahmed’s absence have mostly coincided.
He might still be useful as a defensive substitute. That being said, given the gravity of the blow, the Giants may have to wait a bit longer.
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