Absolutely brutal news dropped Sunday with the announcement that Rafael Devers is going under the knife for core muscle surgery, ending his season. Can you believe it? The guy was only three homers shy of hitting 40 with two weeks left to play, a mark no Giants player has hit since Barry Bonds back in 2004. This is a massive blow, especially considering the 29-year-old first baseman was one of the hottest bats in baseball this month, crushing seven homers and batting .342 in September alone.
The Devastating Devers Blowout
Talk about playing through pain, too. It’s even wilder to find out Devers was apparently battling this core muscle injury for some time before the team finally placed him on the 60-day injured list. They saw it best to shut him down for good, sending him off for surgery with the expectation he’ll be recovered and ready for next season. But man, what a way to derail a historic push for 40 bombs. With Devers now officially out of action, the Giants just turned into one of the top teams for opposing squads to target with streaming pitchers. That’s a tough look when every game matters.
More Injury Woes Across the League
The injury bug didn’t stop with Devers, either. Kyle Bradish is likely done for the season as well, landing on the injured list with an abdominal injury after giving up five runs over just three innings against the Blue Jays on Saturday. The 30-year-old right-hander, whom Toronto placed on the 15-day IL, was a popular sleeper pick heading into this year after finishing strong in 2025 following Tommy John surgery. Instead, Bradish had a rough go in his first full campaign back, posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and a career-low 21.2% strikeout rate.
Then there’s Esmerlyn Valdez, a 22-year-old outfielder, who hit the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain suffered on Friday. Valdez had a killer start to his debut season, hitting .309 with ten homers in the first half. But a high strikeout rate eventually caught up to him, leading to a second-half skid where he batted just .184 with seven homers since the All-Star break. Ryan O’Hearn is now stepping in for designated hitter duties with Valdez sidelined.
Swanson’s Return and the Playoff Picture
On some slightly better news, Dansby Swanson is almost back! The 32-year-old shortstop, who’s been out since mid-August with a left oblique strain, is starting a brief minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell is already planning to activate Swanson from the 10-day injured list on Friday for the start of a weekend series against the Reds. Nico Hoerner filled in at shortstop during his absence, with rookie Pedro Ramírez getting reps at second.
Meanwhile, the playoff picture continues to sharpen up, with the Brewers and Rays already clinching their spots. Get ready for some must-watch baseball this week as the White Sox and Guardians are set to clash!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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