A pair of young SF Giants prospects nearing a return from injury

The SF Giants news on the injury front has been brutal in recent weeks. However, a pair of prospects are nearing a return with both Wade Meckler and Trevor McDonald being assigned to the ACL Giants to begin rehab assignments according to the team's transaction log.

A pair of young SF Giants prospects nearing a return from injury

Meckler has not appeared in a game since spring training due to lingering discomfort from a wrist sprain, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. On the other hand, McDonald has been out since April due to a groin injury.

Neither of these players likely will impact the major league roster right away once they return, especially McDonald. That said, with the spate of injuries to the outfield, Meckler might be the next in line for a call.

Meckler completed a meteoric rise through the farm system last year after being selected in the eighth round of the 2022 draft. Across three minor league levels, the lefty bat slashed .371/.456/.510 with a 13.5 percent walk rate against a 15.9 percent strikeout rate. He was one of the best hitters in the minors last season.

The Giants rewarded his strong play with a promotion to the major league club but his minor league success did not translate as is often the case with prospects. He slumped to a .578 OPS in 64 plate appearances while seeing his strikeout rate balloon to 39.1 percent.

Meckler was one of the Giants' best hitters in spring training, but there was no clear path to playing time in the outfield so he was optioned before sustaining the injury. He tallied three hitless at-bats in the first game of his rehab assignment.

Trevor McDonald is further away. The Giants added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason even though he had not pitched above High-A. He did impress during his time with the Eugene Emeralds last year, posting a 0.96 ERA with 39 strikeouts against eight walks in nine outings. He only yielded one home run during that time.

The 23-year-old pitcher is still relatively green in terms of pro experience, so starting the year in Double-A is an appropriate level. That said, being on the 40-man roster could accelerate his development. McDonald has recorded one scoreless outing with the ACL Giants so far.