The Giants placed third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right elbow inflammation associated with bone chips that have been present since 2013 according to Sandoval.
In a corresponding move, the team activated left fielder Alex Dickerson from the injured list (right oblique strain) after a single rehab-start in Sacramento Tuesday night.
Giants skipper Bruce Bochy said Sandoval was already dealing with some discomfort when he aggravated the injury pinch-hitting in the eighth inning of Sunday’s series finale with the Phillies.
In a case of one of the world’s worse birthday presents, Sandoval said he underwent an MRI that night and received a cortisone shot in his elbow, but the treatment did little to mitigate his discomfort.
He said the pain is something he’s played through in the past, but this flare-up is worse than others. The Panda said it hurts to hit and throw right-handed and though he is able to hit left-handed, as of now he’s been advised to stop baseball activities:
“I just want to be straight up with the coaching staff, the training staff and the manager to tell the truth that I would love to help the team, coming from the bench but, I hope I can play, too. It’s frustrating, but at the same time you have to take care of yourself to to be ready for September and that push.”
Bochy said there is no word on whether he could be out for 10 days or the rest of the season. They don’t yet know whether rest and rehab will be sufficient or if surgery will be necessary:
“He’s frustrated. And he is in pain. This has flared up on him before a little bit but not quite like this. Sometimes they go away after two or three days and other times you know, they they just linger and this one we can’t get to go away.”
Sandoval said he’s trying to manage his emotions the best he can, and he hopes to be back for the last month:
“[You have to] have positive thoughts that you’re gonna be better and come in every day with a lot of love, a lot of passion for your teammates—I know they’re gonna do a great job. If [I’m out] 10 days or one month, whatever time it’s gonna take me to get back to the field, I just want to be cheerleading for those guys to be in the right position to make the post-season.”
Dickerson went 0-for-3 in Sacramento Tuesday with a walk in his sole rehab appearance after an August 1 shelving for a right oblique strain. Bochy said he will be available off the bench Wednesday and expects him back in the starting lineup by Friday.
Julie Parker is SFBay’s San Francisco Giants beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @InsideThePark3r on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Giants baseball.
