Health Concerns Piling Up Early?

SF Giants Minor Lines, April 15, 2025

Photo Credit: Richmond Flying Squirrels

No sooner did I finish saying that “health” was the top thing on my mind this week — and one of the most important factors for good player development to take place — but San Jose gets whacked with a double dose of bad health news. First, as I noted in this week’s 3 Things, Walker Martin was placed on the IL before the series in Rancho Cucamonga got started. And then, when it did start, Jose Ortiz became the latest to suffer a base running mishap, coming up hobbling after hitting 1b midway through yesterday’s Education Day special. Ortiz was plagued by knee troubles much of last year, costing him much of that season. And, seeing as how his legs are a critical aspect of his game skills, every bit of damage to them is a wee bit scary (though, I’ll admit, there is an element of comedy involved in seeing Elian Rayo pinch run for the speedy Ortiz).

Three Things I'm Thinking About (4/15)

As we’ll see shortly, that wasn’t the only concerning moment on the field last night, either. On the positive side, however, Bo Davidson was not placed on the IL yesterday it would appear — which might mean there’s at least a chance his incident on Sunday wasn’t as damaging as it first appeared. That would be good news, indeed.

EDIT: Welsh has added a follow up tweet, noting that he meant to say Double-A, not Triple-A! Utterly! Richmond is more what I was thinking for Bryce.

And then there’s this sight for sore eyes:

And, according to Chris Welsh, long time denizen of the Phoenix-area backfields, Bryce Eldridge will be heading to Sacramento when he’s deemed ready for action — and his source on that is none other than the big guy himself, so it seems solid!

HITTER of the NIGHT: Charlie Szykowny (Eug), 3 for 6, 2 2b (3), 1 R, 2 RBI
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Hunter Dryden (SJ), 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Let’s play some ball, y’all.