SF Giants shortstop could potentially be done for the year after latest update

Willy Adames' 2026 season could be over. Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle shared that the SF Giants shortstop will get a PRP injection in his ailing elbow and that he could be back before the end of the year.

The recovery timeline after a PRP injection often spans multiple weeks. September is right around the corner, and there are fewer than four weeks remaining in the regular season. Adames could recover before the end of the year, but the Giants could shut him down instead. Slusser also speculated that he could return as a DH, but they will cross that bridge when they get there.

The veteran infielder landed on the injured list earlier this week with an elbow sprain. It marked the first time that he has been placed on the injured list since 2022. He missed minimal time during that stint, but Adames is expected to miss much more than the 10-day minimum on the injured list this time around.

Adames has been one of the more durable players in baseball over the past few seasons. He has appeared in at least 160 games each year since 2024, but will fall well short of that mark in 2026. The quest for durability may have been to his detriment at times this year.

SF Giants shortstop Willy Adames also dealt with a back ailment that led to career lows across the board

It is well known that Adames has been playing through a back ailment. That has likely affected his production in 2026. The right-handed bat is slashing .230/.289/.424 (97 wRC+) with 21 home runs, 51 RBI, and 62 runs in 505 plate appearances. This includes a 7.3 percent walk rate, 27.5 percent strikeout rate, and .194 ISO.

Adames' power remains intact, but his plate discipline has eroded. He will often chase out of the zone at a healthy rate, but his 31.6 percent chase rate is among the highest of his nine-year career. This coincided with a notable decline in his zone swing rate to 65.9 percent. Adames has demonstrated a relatively high strikeout rate in his career and has generally posted above-average walk rates. However, the latter category declined sharply this year, leading to a sub-.300 on-base percentage.

On defense, Adames' back ailment visibly limited his range and arm strength. This led to struggles making the routine plays, along with grading out as one of the worst defenders in baseball.

The Giants knew that the 30-year-old infielder would move off shortstop at some point during his seven-year contract. Given the struggles he displayed in the field, that conversation might take place sooner than they hope.

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