SF Giants power-hitting outfielder expected to be out for a while

Last week, Heliot Ramos landed on the injured list with a quad strain. Buster Posey joined KNBR on Thursday and provided no timetable for his return, but expected Ramos to miss “quite some time.”

Posey also discussed a number of different topics, including Bruce Eldridge’s handling. He did not do anything to silence the critics in that regard.

Ramos sustained the quad strain while making a play in the outfield in the first game of the series against the A’s. Will Brennan was recalled to take his place on the roster.

The injury was listed as a strain, but Posey referenced a tear in the interview. He may have misspoke, but a tear has a different, often longer recovery timeline compared to a strain. Posey’s expectation for Ramos missing some time aligns with more of a tear.

This may not be news necessarily, but it caught me by surprise. It did not sound as severe at the time of the injury, but I may have misread that.

The Heliot Ramos injury opens up playing time for other SF Giants alternatives

In that same interview, Posey indicated that Casey Schmitt could continue to get reps in the outfield. He just started taking fly balls out there and has already made a couple of appearances.

This would clear up some of the logjam in the infield and allow Bryce Eldridge to see more playing time.

Outside of Schmitt, the Giants do not have a lot of viable options. After all, the outfield group has produced the lowest value in baseball, and by a good margin.

Ramos has been the Giants’ best outfielder in that regard. He has been worth 0.5 fWAR in 176 plate appearances.

Harrison Bader and Jung Hoo Lee will continue to see regular playing time at center field and right field, respectively. Drew Gilbert could be one of the biggest benefactors here. He has not played particularly well, but is a passable defender in the corners.

The left-handed bat has a .597 OPS with two home runs and nine RBI in 97 plate appearances. This includes 20 hitless at-bats against left-handed pitching.

The other benefactor could be Victor Bericoto. He was called up on Friday, and gives the Giants a right-handed bat with modest power upside.

The Giants will likely go with the hot hand to fill the Ramos void. And, it sounds like Ramos could be out for a while.

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