SF Giants sparkplug's injury just threw a wrench into spring outfield competition

The SF Giants were set to have a pretty heated competition amongst several outfielders for a spot or two on the Opening Day roster no matter what, but that competition has just been complicated a bit by the fact that Drew Gilbert is going to be out for some time with a left shoulder impingement.

He will not be able to throw for the next week or so due to the injury and missing a week in spring training is very important when you are competing for a job.

Drew Gilbert has work cut out for him after shoulder injury

Gilbert was definitely a favorite for a spot on the bench since he showed promise in his brief stint with the Giants last season after he was acquired from the New York Mets. His offensive numbers were not great but he showed he was solid defensively at all three outfield positions which is really what you want from a reserve outfielder.

Of course, his familiarity with new manager Tony Vitello dating back to their time at the University of Tennessee also played a role in his status as a favorite to make the team. Gilbert has spoken highly of Vitello and vice versa so it just makes almost too much sense to have those two together with their unique brand of energy in the dugout.

But with Gilbert's status somewhat in question now, that opens the door for other players. Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnacion are both out of minor league options so that fact alone makes them both strong candidates to make the team just so the Giants wouldn't have to put them on waivers.

Matos has shown promise in his young big league career but it seems whenever he gets hot for a week he is unable to sustain it. He probably has the best chance to make the roster if Gilbert's injury lingers.

Encarnacion showed some flashes of power and productivity at the plate last season, but it seemed every time he was heating up he would get injured. He has a lot of raw power and could make sense as a designated hitter if Bryce Eldridge is deemed unready, although Encarnacion has struggled at the plate in spring training.

The Giants signed Will Brennan just before the start of camp and he is another guy who could make the team. He has a minor league option unlike Matos and Encarnacion so he could start the year in Sacramento without being placed on waivers.

If Gilbert just misses one week and then comes back and looks totally fine the rest of spring training, he still has a pretty decent chance to make the team. But if one week becomes two weeks or more then it may be a little bit until we see Vitello and Gilbert together in a regular season game.