SF Giants Recall Tyler Heineman, Chadwick Tromp to IL

The SF Giants placed Chadwick Tromp on the injured list with a shoulder strain. Tyler Heineman was recalled to take his place as the team’s backup catcher.

SF Giants backup catcher Chadwick Tromp was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder strain on Tuesday. To replace him on the active roster, veteran Tyler Heineman was recalled from the team’s alternate site in Sacramento.

Tromp appeared to first injure his shoulder diving back to first base in Sunday’s 14-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. He remained in the game but was clearly trying to stretch his shoulder. He was originally scheduled to start Monday’s game against the Rockies but was a late scratch from the starting lineup.

The severity of the injury isn’t entirely known, but Tromp underwent right shoulder surgery last year. If the injury requires him to miss significant time, it may be worth asking why he was allowed to continue on Sunday and play on Monday.

While Giants prospect Joey Bart has struggled in his first official big-league action, manager Gabe Kapler had been leaning more on Tromp, a less-heralded rookie backstop. In fact, the team decided to sit Bart for a few games to give him a “mental refresh.”

One of the more intriguing post-prospect prospects on the roster, Tromp ranked as an above-average defensive catcher by multiple metrics and flashed strong raw power. In just 64 plate appearances, Tromp had already hit 4 home runs. Against left-handed pitchers, Tromp was hitting a robust .321/.321/.571 as well.

Heineman made the Giants Opening Day roster but struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. Across 13 games, Heineman hit .195/.283/.220. He did post an impressive 11.1% walk-rate and struck out in just 12.8% of his plate appearances. However, he was struggling to impact the ball with an average exit velocity of just 82.4 mph. Over his eight-year minor-league career, the 29-year old is a career .285/.363/.416 hitter.

Heineman will be unlikely to see much playing time in the final week of the season. He’ll likely be limited to an occasional defensive substitution if Kapler pinch hits for Bart in a clutch late-game situation. Unless the Giants make the postseason, it does spell the end of Tromp’s first big-league campaign.