What’s in store for the Giants in 2023?
The 107-win season from 2021 was followed up with a .500 season in 2022, before Giants fans went through the wringer this offseason. After missing on Aaron Judge and then going through the Carlos Correa fiasco, the Giants are eager to get back to the field.
Pitchers and catchers reported to the team’s spring training facility in Scottsdale Wednesday and the team issued a detailed update on the state of injuries with the squad. Here’s the full report from the Giants:
- OF Michael Conforto (right shoulder rehab) is participating in full baseball activity but will be limited. He’ll start spring games as designated hitter and will work his way back to playing the outfield as his throwing progresses. He’s currently throwing to 165 feet.
- RHP Luke Jackson (UCL reconstruction) threw his first mound session yesterday here in Scottsdale (25 pitches).
- SS Marco Luciano (low back stress fracture) suffered his injury in the Dominican Republic while playing winter ball. He is slowly ramping up baseball activity and is currently working on his throwing and hitting progression.
- RHP Cole Waites (right latissimus dorsi strain) suffered his injury 10 days ago while throwing a bullpen session at home. He’ll be evaluated by Dr. Ken Akizuki today. He is currently not throwing.
Conforto, who signed a two-year, $36 million contract this offseason, missed all of last year after injuring his shoulder in January 2022. A few weeks ago he told reporters he plans to be ready for opening day.
“The progression has me ready to play the field in spring,” Conforto said on Jan. 10. “Hopefully I’m 100 percent by opening day. We’ll see. You gotta take it day by day. But that’s what the progression has me lined up for.”
Perhaps the most surprising bit of news is that Luciano is still feeling the effects of his back injury, as he also missed two months of the 2022 season in High-A with similar issues. Later in the day Wednesday, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told reporters that the team isn’t concerned about the long-term health of Luciano, who is widely regarded as the team’s No. 1 or No. 2 prospect.
Speaking of top prospects, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area also reported that southpaw Kyle Harrison and third baseman Casey Schmitt are set to begin the season in Triple-A, meaning they could both make their big-league debuts later this year.
