Giants to lose DeSclafani for season due to right ankle surgery

The San Francisco Giants will once again be missing one of their key contributors from last season – this time for an extended period of time. 

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani will undergo season-ending right ankle surgery next week, Giants manager Kapler told reporters before Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. The ankle has bothered him since the end of last season and progress wasn’t being made, despite efforts in the offseason to return at full strength. 

The operation – taking place July 12 in Green Bay – will set in place the peroneal tendon. The expected rehab timetable is 4 to 5 months, essentially destroying any chances he’ll be back in a Giants uniform this season.

DeSclafani said:

You know, it’s just frustrating that I’m not able to get the team any quality innings.”

After the 2021 season concluded, the pain faded away until he accumulated more volume on the mound in Spring Training – that’s when he again started feeling the pain. Surgery was originally recommended, but DeSclafani and the Giants training staff attempted the rehab route instead.

After making three starts in April, he spent two months on the injured list nursing the ankle. Four starts later – including two rehab appearances in Triple-A and two with the Giants in June – he’s back on the shelf for good. He allowed 21 earned runs in just 19 innings across five big league starts this season.

On the blow, Kapler noted DeSclafani’s work ethic through the recovery process:

Anthony worked really hard following last season to come to camp healthy and to be the best version that he could possibly be for the Giants. I appreciate the work ethic and how much he gave to us. We know he’s going to give that same level of effort in this rehab process and the optimistic view is he’s going to come back as healthy as he’s been for the beginning of 2023.”

There are a few things San Francisco can do to fill DeSclafani’s spot in the starting rotation.

They can wait for righty Jakob Junis to return from his left hamstring injury, not a far out idea, he’s felt good during recent bullpen sessions. Junis was an excellent shot in the arm across seven starts with the Giants, most in May when DeSclafani was on the injured list the first time. While they patiently wait, the Giants can keep unleashing bullpen games once a week, something they’ve had zero issues with doing. 

Aside from Junis, there’s always the possibility of turning to in-house options. Southpaw Sam Long has made mechanical adjustments that have made him a viable candidate to throw significant innings. Sean Hjelle is also an option from the 40-man roster, the enormously tall righty has made a cameo in two games out of the bullpen for the Giants this season but has a track-record at the minor league level of starting games. 

And of course, the possibility of trading for external help is always on the table.

It’s unknown whether the Giants will be buyers or sellers at this year’s trading deadline on August 2. They’ve skidded as of late, losing 10 of their last 13 games entering Sunday. If their poor play continues, perhaps the need for rotation depth isn’t as pressing. 

The front office could also see an opening with the new expanded postseason format, a setup that can benefit San Francisco because of the lack of competition in the National League. If that’s the case and they catch fire, the rotation depth is more in question and in possible need of some type of upgrade in the middle or back-end.

Oakland’s Frankie Montas and Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo are the two sexy names expected to be on the trading block this deadline season, but the Giants may not want to part ways with any of their top-tier prospects to get a deal done.

Reds righty Tyler Mahle could be an affordable option and is under team control for one more season. The 27-year-old made a league-best 33 starts in 2021 and has navigated through a lively home ballpark – Great American Ballpark – in the past with ease and a high strikeout rate. 

For now, it appears the Giants will stay pat. 

DeSclafani, 32, enjoyed a career year in 2021 after signing with the Giants on a one-year, $6 million deal. It was a bargain, but well-worth the product. In 31 starts, he fired 167 ⅔ innings and recorded a 3.17 ERA. He was rewarded with a three-year deal from San Francisco worth $36 million. He said the ankle injury was not a factor or mentioned in contract negotiations.