The San Francisco Giants have called up 25-year-old Nate Furman from their Triple-A affiliate, Sacramento, to replace injured second baseman Jesús Rodríguez, who has been placed on the 10-Day Injured List with right elbow neuritis.
The move comes as the Giants prepare for the trade deadline on Monday, with All-Star second baseman Luis Arráez likely to be traded. Casey Schmitt, a potential replacement, is out for the season with a torn meniscus. Furman, who hit .284 in AAA this year, is expected to be the immediate fill-in at second base.
Furman, a contact hitter with a 12.4% strikeout rate, has a career .289 batting average in the Minors. He has a .775 OPS and a 107 wRC+ with Sacramento this year. His defensive skills are less polished, but like Arráez, he has the potential to make gains with proper instruction.
The Giants acquired Furman in the 2024 Alex Cobb trade, which is looking good for the team at this point. Furman was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians.
Rodríguez, who mostly played catcher this year but has experience at second base and in the outfield, will be out for at least 10 days. He has hit .235/.316/.412 for a .728 OPS and a 104 wRC+ in his debut season.
The Giants' short-term plans at second base are now clear, but their long-term plans are still up in the air. The team is expected to make a move to replace Arráez, but it's unclear who will take over the position long-term.
Furman's call-up is a positive development for the Giants, who are looking to make a push for the playoffs. He will have the opportunity to prove himself as a Major League player, and the team will be watching closely to see how he performs.
The Giants will face the San Diego Padres on Sunday, with Furman likely to make his Major League debut. The team will be looking for a strong performance from their new second baseman as they prepare for the trade deadline and the stretch run.
Source: Yahoo Sports