SF Giants LHP Alex Wood to begin rehab assignment on Sunday

The SF Giants seem close to welcoming back southpaw Alex Wood. He will make his first rehab assignment at Sacramento on Sunday.

The SF Giants have sent left-handed pitcher Alex Wood to Triple-A Sacramento to make his first rehab since he was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain on April 19th. Wood threw a simulated game while the Giants were on their road trip in Houston and had another bullpen session earlier this week. The medical staff clearly liked what they saw enough to get Wood back into official game action.

SF Giants lefty Alex Wood throws a pitch. (2022) / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

"He's going to throw 45 pitches today," said Giants manager Gabe Kapler during his pregame availability on Sunday. "Maybe a few more pitches depending on how he feels, but let's just get through one start and see where we are."

Wood was very effective with the Giants prior to landing on the injured list. He recorded a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts and six walks. In the final year of a two-year, $25 million contract, Wood is obviously hoping to pick up where he left off and set himself for a sizable payday this offseason.

The Giants signed Wood to a one-year deal prior to the 2021 season after a pair of injury-riddled campaigns. He took advantage of the opportunity with his best season since 2018. He posted a 3.83 ERA in 138.2 innings pitched during the Giants' 107-win season and added 4.2 shutout innings in the NLDS.

Last season, Wood posted comparable peripheral numbers in 130.2 innings pitched. However, a combination of bad luck and the Giants defensive struggles led him to post the worst ERA of his career in a season where he threw at least 100 innings (5.10).

Barring injury, Tristan Beck (Giants #19 prospect) will likely be optioned to Triple-A when Wood is activated. However, the veteran southpaw's role upon his return is harder to pin down.

The top of the Giants rotation is clearly set with ace Logan Webb, the most underrated pitcher in MLB Alex Cobb, and Anthony DeSclafani. However, after that, offseason acquisitions Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea have both struggled in their first month with the Giants. While Alex Wood's injury history could lead the SF Giants to move him to the bullpen to lessen his workload, it seems more likely that Stripling and Manaea will return to sharing the fifth spot in the rotation.