SF Giants are optimistic that starting catcher will miss minimal time with injury

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey landed on the injured list with an oblique strain earlier this week. Manager Bob Melvin told Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle that the club is optimistic that Bailey can return shortly after the 10-day minimum.

SF Giants are optimistic that starting catcher will miss minimal time with injury

Jakson Reetz was recalled in a corresponding roster move. In the meantime, veteran backstop Curt Casali will receive the majority of the starts behind the plate. It is not an ideal situation given how seamlessly Bailey works with the pitching staff, but Casali is a well-respected voice within the Giants clubhouse.

Perhaps, the time off will give Bailey a chance to recharge and get ready for the final month of the year. While his defense rates as among the best gloves in baseball, his bat has dipped considerably in the second half.

Overall, he is slashing .233/.299/.344 (83 wRC+) with seven home runs, 38 RBI, and 37 runs in 366 plate appearances. This includes a 9.0 percent walk rate, 21.6 strikeout rate, and .110 ISO. Hits have been hard to come by lately as he has just 11 hits in 96 at-bats in the second half of the season.

While getting offensive output from the catcher position is nice, teams do prioritize defense and that is what Bailey brings to the table. On the other hand, the Giants lineup is light on high-impact bats, so a soft spot in the lineup puts pressure on the rest of the hitters to produce. The good news is that Bailey's oblique injury does not appear serious.

For the time being, Casali will take over the primary duties behind the plate. The 11-year veteran returned to the Giants in the middle of the season when Tom Murphy landed on the injured list.

Casali does not bring much value defensively in a way that can be quantified, but he is a popular catching target among Giants pitchers. He does not offer much with the bat as he has posted a .531 OPS with five RBI in 89 plate appearances this year. That said, he continues to see a lot of pitches and make pitchers work. There is value in that.

Jakson Reetz will serve as the team's backup for now. He has had a couple of brief stints with the club this season. The righty bat has registered just two hits, one home run, in 14 at-bats with the Giants in 2024.