SF Giants outfielder Austin Slater receives good news from MRI on elbow
SF Giants outfielder Austin Slater has been sidelined for the past week with elbow discomfort. However, according to a report by San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Susan Slusser, an MRI confirmed the medical staff's suspicion that his pain was not a sign of a more serious injury.
SF Giants outfielder Austin Slater. (2022)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
"Austin Slater got an MRI on his elbow yesterday and it came back fine, no structural issues at all," Slusser wrote in a Tweet. "Just an angry nerve that needs rest, anti inflammatory treatment etc."
Slater has arguably become an overlooked member of the Giants core, and will likely need to have a resurgent season to help San Francisco return to postseason contention. Slater hopes to find his from from the 2020 season when he hit .282/.408/.506 with five home runs and eight stolen bases in 31 games.
Injuries have plagued Slater throughout his career, consistently forcing him to the injured list. When healthy, Slater has one of the best combinations of power and speed on the Giants. He is also a versatile defensive player, consistently grading out as an above-average glove in both center and right field.
Of course, Slater is at his best against left-handed pitching. While his career .255/.345/.402 triple-slash is right around league average, the Stanford product has a .285/.377/.469 line with 32 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs, 71 walks, and 139 strikeouts in 640 career plate appearances against southpaws.
The SF Giants obviously want Austin Slater to get back on the field as soon as possible, and the team received some good news this week from an MRI. While there is still no timetable for Slater's return, it's a positive sign that there is no structural damage.
