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SF Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski scratched with side tightness

The SF Giants scratched outfielder Mike Yastrzemski from the lineup against the Cardinals close to an hour before first pitch on Wednesday.

Natasha Welingkar

SF Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski scratched with side tightness
SF Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski scratched with side tightness /
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The SF Giants scratched outfielder Mike Yastrzemski from the lineup roughly an hour before first pitch on Wednesday night with side tightness. Giants manager Gabe Kapler opted to insert LaMonte Wade Jr. in his place. Wade started the game in right field.

Yastrzemski, who had a slow start to 2023, has been on fire in the last week, hitting .417/.750/1.167 with 10 hits and two home runs. He has undeniably been a critical contributor for the Giants during their four-game win streak. 

But his success hasn't just been on the offensive side; he's been pivotal in the outfield, too. Across all three positions, he's already amassed 0.6 dWAR this early in the season, making the case to be in the lineup regardless of pitching lineup.

Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Fame outfielder Carl Yastrzemski, spent the first six years of his pro career in the minor leagues with the Orioles. However, Yastrzemski reached another level after he was traded to the Giants in 2019. He posted a 1.090 OPS at Triple-A and received his first big-league call-up, establishing himself as an everyday player with a .272/.334/.518 line with 21 home runs in 107 games.

After starring for the team in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Yastrzemski regressed over the next two seasons. As his offensive production has dipped towards league average, there have been growing questions about whether he would remain an everyday player with the Giants.

The SF Giants front office opted to retain Yastrzemski last offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million deal to avoid arbitration with the hope that he would return to his 2019-2020 form. So far, that decision has paid off. Hopefully Mike Yastrzemski's side tightness is only a mild issue and he is able to fully recover quickly.

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Natasha Welingkar
NATASHA WELINGKAR

Natasha Welingkar (she/her) is a creative marketer, writer, and lifelong Bay Area sports fan. Born to Indian immigrants, she has been obsessed with baseball since infancy, picking up on the sport through her parents' love of the SF Giants and the soothing sounds of Jon Miller on the radio.Natasha received a Bachelor's degree from Cal with a major in cognitive science and minor in journalism. In college, she covered breaking news, national politics, and lifestyle for The Tab’s Berkeley offshoot. She also led the campus’ official creative agency, an organization responsible for campus-wide design education as well as graphic design, photography, and web design work for student organizations.

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