Angel Pagan to 15-day DL, San Francisco Giants call up Adam Duvall

In a move that seemed to be coming for a week, the San Francisco Giants have placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the 15-day disabled list. Infielder Adam Duvall gets the call up from Fresno to see his first big league action.

Pagan has been out for the last 8 games with back inflammation and nerve irritation. He last played on June 14, so the DL stint is backdated to June 15. The Giants have gone 2-6 in Pagan’s absence and are currently trying to avoid a sweep at home to the San Diego Padres.

This season the Giants have gone 9-11 with Pagan out of the lineup, and 36-21 in games he starts. Pagan truly is the cog that gets the Giants hitting machine going. He’s taken some batting practice in the cages and shagged fly balls, but the Giants wanted to give him a few days to rest and heal up. He is eligible to return on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Adam Duvall gets the nod from Fresno. He was the Giants 11th round selection back in 2010 and will be making his Major League debut whenever he finally gets to step on the field. Duvall is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and went to college at the University of Louisville.

Duvall has been knocking the cover off the ball in Fresno this season. He’s hitting .297 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI, in 67 games for Fresno. There’s always talk about inflated numbers in the Pacific Coast League, but 23 home runs is a lot in any league this time of the season.

Through the years Duvall has made stops all through the Giants farm system. Lifetime he has 96 Minor League home runs. Unlike the recently called up Joe Panik, Duvall will not be inserted in to the everyday lineup. We’ll probably see corner infielder Duvall more as a pinch hitter and inserted on double switches. He could get a spot start at first or third base, but opportunities may be limited.

Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted Bruce Bochy‘s thoughts on Duvall and Joe Panik’s mini scouting report. I agree with Bochy, 23 home runs are a lot wherever you are playing.