SF Giants activate DH Joc Pederson from IL, option OF Bryce Johnson
The SF Giants activated designated hitter Joc Pederson from the injured list on Tuesday, optioning speedy outfielder Bryce Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Pederson was 0-for-4 with a walk and three fly outs in a one-game rehab stint with the San Jose Giants. Pederson will start at designated hitter. Pederson has been out since May 16th with a right hand contusion.
SF Giants left fielder Joc Pederson hits a home run during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics. (2023)
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Pederson also dealt with wrist inflammation in April that sidelined him for a couple of weeks. Despite the injuries, Pederson has remained incredibly effective when he's been in the lineup. In 97 plate appearances this season, Pederson is hitting .235/.351/.494 triple-slash with five home runs. A left-handed hitter with significant platoon splits, Pederson has remained the Giants starting designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
Pederson was selected to his second career All-Star game last season, his first with the Giants, hitting .274/.353/.521 with 23 home runs. After becoming a free agent, he accepted a qualifying offer during the offseason to return to the Bay Area. In his 10th big-league season, Pederson continues to be a formidable bat. Over his career, which started with the Dodgers before short stints with the Cubs and Atlanta, Pederson has blasted 176 home runs alongside a .237/.335/.470 triple-slash.
Johnson is a speedy outfielder who has served as the Giants' fifth-outfielder for most of his recent stint with the team. primarily playing as a late-game defensive replacement or pinch runner. On the season, he is hitting .175/.227/.275 with a double and home run in 44 plate appearances (25 games). Now, Johnson will return to Triple-A, where he has crushed it at the plate. Johnson has a .385/.467/.692 triple-slash in 15 plate appearances.
Pederson's return will create an interesting logjam for Giants manager Gabe Kapler to address. Blake Sabol (Giants #33 prospect) has replaced Joc as the team's go-to left-handed hitting designated hitter and has performed well. With Patrick Bailey (Giants #21 prospect) now blocking Sabol from catching and Mitch Haniger blocking him from left field, it's difficult to envision the young player getting many opportunities if Pederson reprises his old role. Then again, it's hard to imagine the SF Giants keeping Joc Pederson's bat out of the lineup.
