SF Giants outfielder Austin Slater begins rehab assignment at Triple-A
The SF Giants may be close to getting outfielder Austin Slater back in the team's lineup. Slater, who is currently on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. Slater started at designated hitter for the River Cats. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning but finished the day with two strikeouts and a flyout in his three trips to the plate.
Slater has been sidelined since early in spring training with a pair of injuries, only appearing in three preseason games. So while the Giants would love to get Slater back in the lineup as soon as possible, the team will likely want to see the veteran outfielder have some success against upper minors pitching before he returns to the team. Granted, given the Giants' struggles against left-handed pitching and several injuries already in their outfield, they may expedite that process more than would be ideal.
Slater has arguably been an overlooked member of the Giants' core in recent years, perhaps because a slew of injuries have limited his availability. The Giants hope Slater can replicate his breakout in 2020 when he returns to the field. In the pandemic-shortened campaign, Slater hit .282/.408/.506 with five home runs and eight stolen bases in 31 games platooning against left-handed pitching.
Slater has always thrived against southpaws. His career .255/.345/.402 triple-slash is roughly league average, but the Stanford product has a .285/.377/.469 line with 32 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs, 71 walks, and 139 strikeouts in 640 career plate appearances against lefties. Giants manager Gabe Kapler will likely deploy Slater in a platoon with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski in center field upon his return.
The SF Giants have lost several top hitters to the injured list early this season. However, with outfielder Austin Slater starting a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Sacramento, it seems like the team is close to getting one of their most potent threats against left-handed pitching back in the lineup soon.