SF Giants activate DH Joc Pederson from IL, option OF Heliot Ramos
The SF Giants activated designated hitter Joc Pederson from the injured list prior to Sunday's game against the New York Mets, optioning outfielder Heliot Ramos (Giants #17 prospect) to Triple-A Sacramento. Pederson was eligible to be activated on Saturday, but the Giants gave him an extra day to recover. He was placed on the injured list with wrist inflammation last week.
SF Giants slugger Joc Pederson hits a home run against the Athletics. (2023)
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
"Obviously, his wrist is doing much better," said Giants manager Gabe Kapler during his pregame media availability. "He's right on schedule, nothing unexpected. What does he bring to the table? He was our best left-handed bat against right-handed pitching last year. Force right in the middle of our lineup. He's a guy that other teams don't want to face. So, it feels good to have him back."
Pederson was off to a hot start this season before landing on the injured list. He had a .242/.350/.545 triple-slash with two doubles, a triple, and two home runs in 10 games. Pederson is in his second season with the Gaints after accepting a qualifying offer from the team during the offseason. In his first campaign with the Giants last year, Pederson was selected to his second career All-Star game and .274/.353/.521 with 23 homers.
Ramos hit .192/.222/.269 with a pair of doubles, a walk, and eight strikeouts in 27 plate appearances across nine games with the Giants this season. Kapler was lukewarm in his evaluation of Ramos' stint with the big-league club, although he highlighted Ramos' rally sparking double in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Mets.
"Heliot has been fine," Kapler said. "Obviously there was a big double that he hit for us yesterday."
Ramos' call-up was primarily driven by the Giants need for right-handed hitting outfielders while Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger worked their way back from the injured list. Ramos had struggled during spring training and was hitting .333/.355/.370 in seven games with the River Cats before his promotion.
By optioning Heliot Ramos, the SF Giants are signaling that Slater and Haniger, who are both currently on rehab assignments at Triple-A, are approaching a return. In the meantime, though, they are welcoming one of the most formidable on the team, Joc Pederson, back into the lineup.
