Harrison Bader's health update has delivered a crushing blow to the San Francisco Giants' already struggling season. The 22-year-old centerfielder, who's been on the injured list since May 30 due to left plantar fasciitis, has worsened his injury in a scooter accident, the team announced on Tuesday.
The Giants' season has been on a downward spiral, with the team languishing at 45-62. Bader's injury is just the latest evidence of the team's misfortune. He's been a major disappointment this season, playing only 30 games while batting a putrid .170/.198/.358.
Bader signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants before the season, but it's clear that he's not living up to expectations. This is his first season in San Francisco after spending his first nine seasons with various teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies.
The news of Bader's scooter accident comes after a fan ran into the outfielder while he was apparently scootering around San Francisco. The fan took a picture with Bader and appeared to catch the outfielder in the act, showing him using his injured left foot to push off the ground.
The Giants are now expected to be sellers at the August 3 trade deadline, with second baseman Luis Arraez, starting pitchers Robbie Ray, and Tyler Mahle among the players who could be shipped out. Team president Buster Posey will likely be making some tough decisions in the coming days.
The extent of Bader's injury is still unknown, with an MRI scheduled to determine the extent of the damage. The Giants will be hoping for the best, but it's clear that Bader's season is all but over.
Bader's injury is a significant setback for the Giants, who are already struggling to stay competitive. With the team's trade deadline approaching, it's clear that some big decisions will be made in the coming days.
Source: Yahoo Sports