SF Giants inching closer to full strength with return of power-hitting bat

The SF Giants got some good news on Sunday as Joc Pederson was activated from the injured list. The left-handed bat experienced a bout of wrist inflammation but missed minimal time due to the ailment.

SF Giants inching closer to full strength with return of power-hitting bat

Outfielder Heliot Ramos was optioned back to Triple-A in a corresponding roster move according to the team's transaction log. The 23-year-old tallied five hits, including two doubles, in 26 at-bats in his most extended look yet in the majors.

He heads back to Triple-A where he was having some of his best production in three seasons in the Pacific Coast League. It is a very small sample, but the right-handed bat is slashing .333/.355/.370 with six RBI and three runs in 31 plate appearances. This includes five strikeouts against one walk.

Pederson's return is expected to be the first move in bringing the Giants back to full strength. Both Mitch Haniger (oblique) and Austin Slater (hamstring) were at Oracle Park on Sunday according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Slater and Haniger had been in the middle of rehab assignments with the Sacramento River Cats. Slater recorded six hits in 18 at-bats, whereas Haniger tallied four hits in 13 at-bats. Given that they were at Oracle Park could be a sign that their respective rehab assignments are complete.

For Pederson, his return gives the Giants' lineup a nice jolt. The left-handed bat was off to a solid start before landing on the injured list. He has registered a .242/.350/.545 line (139 OPS+) with two home runs, nine RBI, and three runs in 40 plate appearances. The 31-year-old was an immediate boost to the offense on Sunday as he notched an RBI single and one walk in four plate appearances to help the Giants secure a 5-4 win against the New York Mets.

The RBI single came with two outs in the first inning. Two-out hitting has just not been a quality that the Giants have excelled at in 2023, so this was a nice change of pace. Plus, Pederson scored from first base on a Mike Yastrzemski double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Who knew Pederson was such a speed demon?

Injuries have been a narrative through the first month of the season. However, that is expected to change with the return of several key players, starting with Pederson.