SF Giants recall versatile left-handed bat, place 2B Thairo Estrada on IL
The SF Giants placed second baseman Thairo Estrada on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left hand on Monday, recalling versatile position player Brett Wisely from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Estrada was hit on the hand. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Estrada was slated to get a scan on his hand during his pregame media availability prior to the decision. Clearly, the results of the scan were worse than the Giants had hoped.
SF Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada gets ready to throw to first base. (2023)
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Estrada was once a top prospect with the New York Yankees but was usurped by other players in the organization and seemed to plateau as a depth infield piece. The Giants capitalized on a Bronx Bombers' roster crunch and acquired Estrada in a minor trade for cash considerations that ranks among the best moves of Farhan Zaidi's tenure.
Estrada quickly proved to be a valuable platoon infielder but became the team's starting second baseman last season. This year, he looked like an emerging star early in the season. Despite a recent slump at the plate, Estrada is still hitting .272/.327/.434 with 18 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, and a team-leading 18 stolen bases this season.
The Giants acquired Wisely in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays this offseason for outfielder prospect Tristan Peters. Wisely has hit .195/.230/.317 with four doubles, two home runs, four walks, and 24 strikeouts in 88 plate appearances in the majors this season. However, at Triple-A, Wisely has recorded a .301/.436/.522 triple-slash in 144 plate appearances with 13 doubles and four home runs with 25 walks and 37 strikeouts.
A career infielder Wisely has easily transitioned to the outfield this season giving Kapler a left-handed bat capable of handling second base, shortstop, or center field defensively. In Giants Baseball Insider's updated prospect rankings, Wisely was ranked the 20th and 22nd best prospect in the organization.
Thairo Estrada has emerged as a key component of the SF Giants lineup this season, and his absence will be felt. However, it's worth noting that the All-Star break would allow Estrada to be activated after missing just six games. The Giants are also slated to face a trio of right-handed pitchers against the Mariners, which should give Brett Wisely some opportunities with a platoon advantage.
