Veteran outfielder nearing a rehab assignment with the SF Giants

Harrison Bader is nearing a return to game action. According to Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle, the veteran SF Giants outfielder is getting close to beginning a rehab assignment.

Veteran outfielder nearing a rehab assignment with the SF Giants

Bader has been sidelined with a hamstring strain since the middle of April. That ailment first popped up during spring training and lingered throughout the start of the season.

There is a good chance that Bader's numbers were affected by the hamstring strain. He is off to a brutal start, slashing .115/.145/.192 (-10 wRC+) with a 3.6 percent walk rate and a 30.9 percent strikeout rate in 55 plate appearances.

Of course, the right-handed bat has been much better than that in his career. Across 10 major league seasons, he has put up a .245/.310/.397 (94 wRC+) line with a 7.0 percent walk rate, 24.5 percent strikeout rate, and .152 ISO.

These are respectable numbers, but there is some year-over-year volatility. For example, he had a career year at the plate last season where he put up a .796 OPS with 17 home runs and 54 RBI in 501 plate appearances.

The Giants signed Bader to improve the outfield defense. That was a glaring issue last year, and has been a non-story in 2026. Anything he offers with the bat should be considered a bonus.

There is an expectation that the 31-year-old outfielder will take some extra time during the rehab assignment to get his swing back in order. Rehab assignments used to be lengthier processes, but they have often been reduced to a game or two so that a player can get back to the team.

In Bader's absence, Drew Gilbert has filled in admirably. He has put up a .753 OPS across 46 plate appearances while playing passable defense in center field and bringing a lot of energy to the dugout. In Gilbert's brief time with the organization, that energy has been a refreshing sign for a team that has too often looked flat-footed.

There is also a chance that Gilbert's performance has earned him some playing time once Bader returns. Bader is in the first year of a two-year, $20 million deal, so they are not going to make any drastic changes this early in the season. That said, a timeshare in center field could make sense for both outfielders.

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