Willy Adames just got a platelet-rich plasma injection, and man, does he need it. The San Francisco Giants shortstop has been battling a left elbow sprain after a nasty play at the plate last Sunday in Boston, where catcher Connor Wong’s knee slammed into his arm. Add that to back problems that have plagued him all season, and you start to get the picture of a seriously rough year.
Injury Woes and a Tough Call
Adames is looking at a three to four week recovery timeline from that elbow sprain, which means a late September return is “possible,” maybe. He wants to get a couple of at-bats in before the season wraps, but he’s smart enough to know when to hold back. “If I’m not 100%, I don’t think I’m going to push it,” Adames said. You gotta respect that, especially when he admits, “It would be different if we were in a different position.” That tells you everything about where the Giants stand. Luckily, those nagging back issues have apparently “calmed down,” which is a huge relief, not just for the end of this season, but for 2027.
“Disappointing” is an Understatement
Let’s be real, Adames isn’t sugarcoating it. He called his season “disappointing” on both sides of the ball, and the numbers back him up. He’s hitting a meager .230 with 21 homers, and his 62 runs are second-most on the team. But defensively? Brutal. He’s tied for the absolute worst Outs Above Average in the majors at a staggering -17, and a -5 Defensive Runs Saved according to the Fielding Bible. That’s just tough to swallow for any everyday player. He knows what’s up, too, saying he needs to do “Everything” differently next year. He’s got a coach, Angel Gonzalez, in the Dominican Republic who always helps him “get back to my roots.” He’ll be putting in serious work this offseason, that’s for sure.
Looking Ahead to the Pen and Beyond
In other Giants news, they might be shaking things up on the mound. Left-hander Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson and right-hander Yunior Marte were on hand but not active for Friday’s game. Wilkinson is likely to be the 27th player for Saturday’s doubleheader against Arizona, which could be a bullpen game if the relief corps isn’t too taxed. Marte, a 23-year-old fireballer who came over from the Royals last year for Mike Yastrzemski, had a 3.92 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 64⅓ innings in 13 starts at Double-A Richmond. Plus, Marcelo Mayer is out of his walking boot and could be an option. But for Adames, it’s all about that recovery and that massive offseason reevaluation. He needs to come back healthy and focused, because a repeat of this year’s “disappointing” performance simply won’t cut it.
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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