SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -The San Francisco Giants activated outfielder Fred Lewis from the 15-day disabled list Saturday, clearing roster room by designating infielder Luis Figueroa for assignment.
Lewis played in seven games for Triple-A Fresno in a rehab assignment as he recovered from a strained a muscle in his right side – and his numbers there were too hard to ignore. Lewis batted 13-for-34 (.382) with two home runs, 12 RBIs, a triple and a double.
“He’s playing great, and he was before his injury,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He went down there and kept doing it. We wanted to get him up here. He’ll get playing time. We want to work him in as much as we can to keep him sharp.”
Lewis got hurt on June 8, a crazy game in which backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo sustained a knee injury that required surgery. That left the Giants without another position player, and lefty starter Noah Lowry finished the game in left field, third baseman Pedro Feliz moved to catcher and right fielder Randy Winn went to third.
Lewis said he will take more care in warming up to avoid further injury or any lingering problems for the rest of the season.
“Everything seems to be healing pretty good,” he said. “It’s not affecting anything else – running, swinging or any other types of movements. It can be something that lingers. That was something I was very careful with when I started swinging. I’m happy to be back.”
Figueroa, 33, was called up from Triple-A Fresno on June 18 when infielder Rich Aurilia went on the DL with a sore neck. He batted was 1-for-5 and scored a run in six games, and has now appeared in 18 total major league games with the Blue Jays last season and the Pirates in 2001.
Figueroa said he would return to Fresno and work out until he clears waivers. The Giants have up to 10 days to trade or release him or assign him outright to the minors.
“I’ll see what happens,” Figueroa said. “Keep playing and it will work out. I just need to get my mind (right) and keep working.”
Aurilia was set to begin a rehab assignment with Fresno at Las Vegas on Saturday and then play again Sunday. He’s slated to get at least three at-bats each game, then will meet the Giants in Cincinnati on Tuesday if everything goes well.
Add A Comment