SF Giants activate Mitch Haniger, option Heliot Ramos, DFA speedy outfielder
The SF Giants will finally welcome outfielder Mitch Haniger back to the lineup after an extended absence on the injured list. Haniger was reinstated from a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday. In corresponding moves, the Giants optioned outfielder Heliot Ramos (Giants Top 30 Prospect) to Triple-A Sacramento and designated outfielder Bryce Johnson for assignment.
SF Giants LF Mitch Haniger hits a two-run home run against the Padres. (2023)
Haniger has dealt with a myriad of injuries this season and missed most of spring training. He has appeared in just 40 games this season, struggling to a .230/.281/.373 line with nine doubles, four home runs, nine walks, and 42 strikeouts, and 160 plate appearances. Despite his struggles, though, Giants manager Gabe Kapler was confident that he was close to turning the corner at the plate before he was hit on the arm and suffered a fractured forearm that required surgery in June.
The Giants signed Haniger to a three-year, $43.5 million deal prior to the 2023 season, betting on his ability to be a potent right-handed bat. Haniger has been held back by injuries throughout his career but has some notable highlights. He is a career .259/.332/.469 hitter with an All-Star selection back in 2018 and a 39-homer campaign in 2021. Given the dearth of power in San Francisco's lineup, particularly against left-handed pitching, he could quickly make a big impact.
Ramos has oscillated between Triple-A and the majors this season and has enjoyed his first prolonged success in the upper minors and majors. Ramos has struggled to limit strikeouts in the majors this season, with 18 in 52 plate appearances, but has had several big hits this month. He has also hit .307/.369/.566 with 22 extra-base hits in 46 Triple-A games this season, easily his best performance in the minors since at least 2019.
Johnson has been one of the best defenders and baserunners in the Giants organization since they drafted him in the sixth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Now 27, Johnson has at times looked like the best player on the Sacramento River Cats this season, hitting .284/.360/.471 with 11 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs in 50 games with 14 stolen bases. However, he recently went down with an injury.
A switch-hitter, Johnson's upside is limited by below-average power. And most importantly, he has struggled to match his minor-league production in his brief MLB stints. In 67 career big-league plate appearances, Johnson has posted a .148/.209/.213 triple-slash with a double, home run, and 22 strikeouts.
The SF Giants signaled that Bryce Johnson's tenure on the 40-man roster was approaching an end when they decided to call up Meckler. Now, he will hope to be claimed off waivers by another team. Otherwise, he could be outrighted back to the minors.
