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Jerar Encarnacion celebrates after he hit a two-run home run for the Giants against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 11, 2024.
On Wednesday August 6, 2025, San Francisco Giants right fielder Jerar Encarnacion exited the Giants’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a hamstring injury.
It’s really unfortunate timing for Encarnacion, who just returned from the injured list on Monday August 4, 2025 and hit home runs on back-to-back days August 5 and 6.
To make matters worse, Giants manager Bob Melvin said that Encarnacion’s injury “doesn’t look good”. The Giants will know more about his injury after his MRI on August 7, 2025, but Encarnacion is almost certainly going to end up back on the injured list.
If he does, the Giants will have only one right fielder on the roster: Grant McCray. They traded away longtime starting right fielder Mike Yastrzemski to the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline July 31, 2025.
So the Giants need to call up a fourth outfielder to man right field alongside McCray, who has not become a proven starter in his short time in the MLB yet.
In the midst of a key stretch that will determine whether the Giants are in the 2025 playoff picture or not, this callup could be season-altering.
The Giants Will Likely Summon A Returning Player
The most obvious RF decision would just be for the Giants to recall Luis Matos.
Many fans figured the Giants were finally giving Matos an extended chance to prove himself and realize his potential when they dealt away Yastrezemski. Encarnacion and McCray’s returns complicated things, but they could just bring back Matos a few days after they sent him to AAA.
Daniel Johnson has also played the outfield for the Giants at different points this season. But as a player, he profiles similarly to McCray. The Giants probably want a bigger bat and not another speed-and-defense guy on the roster.
Marco Luciano would be the most intriguing returner. The Giants have spent the season converting him to the outfield after his massive struggles defensively at shortstop early in his MLB career.
He has crushed 20 home runs for AAA Sacramento this season, which would be tied for the most on San Francisco’s MLB roster, so the Giants could summon him in hope that he can provide a similar spark to Jerar Encarnacion.
More than anyone, Giants fans will want to see Drew Gilbert, who came over from the New York Mets in the Tyler Rogers trade. He’s gotten off to a hot start in his first three games with AAA Sacramento including delivering a walk-off hit.
The most intriguing storyline is if the Giants summon Hunter Bishop, an oft-injured former top prospect who is finally healthy and producing for AAA Sacramento this season.
Luciano seems like the most likely candidate for a recall given his profile as a hitter, but any of these guys could be in San Francisco by Friday August 8, 2025.
Wilmer Flores Also Injured
San Francisco Giants 1B/DH Wilmer Flores is also currently nursing an injury. The Giants are hopeful he can avoid an IL stint, and 1B Dominic Smith and IF Casey Schmitt have done just fine filling in for Flores, but if he hits the injured list, that’s another roster move to watch.
Of course, when Giants fans hear “first base” and “roster opening” they’re going to want to see top prospect Bryce Eldridge finally get his shot in the big leagues.
That would admittedly be exciting, but given how cautious the Giants have been with Eldridge’s development, it’s probably unlikely that he gets called up.
As mentioned, Smith, Schmitt and Rafael Devers can hold it down at first base for San Francisco. If an infielder spot became available, the Giants would likely summon utility infielders Tyler Fitzgerald or Brett Wisely to give them some extra bench strength.
Giants fans, what roster moves do you think the team should make following Jerar Encarnacion’s injury?
Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for heavy.com. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman
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