There's a slim chance San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez might return to the lineup sometime this season.Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said Sunday night that -- while Sanchez does in fact have a dislocated right shoulder that could require surgery and end his season -- the plan is to see how his shoulder responds to rehab over the next few weeks in hopes that he could hold off on surgery until the offseason and return to the lineup.
Groeschner said there also was damage to the labrum and the capsule is stretched.
The Giants are in Arizona this week and Sanchez will be evaluated there by Dr. Gary Waslewski, who performed surgery on Sanchez's bum left shoulder last winter.
Sanchez dislocated his right shoulder in the 5th inning of Friday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds. He dove for a grounder up the middle off the bat of Brandon Phillips, and used his right hand to brace himself as he slid on the edge of the outfield grass.
It looked like it was going to be another fantastic gem by Sanchez, but he remained on the ground with the ball still in his glove, while teammate Aaron Rowand rushed up from center field to finish the play. Sanchez then got up on his knees and flicked the ball away with his glove as manager Bruce Bochy and Groeschner rushed onto the field. As they helped Sanchez off the field, they had to hold his arm up to brace it before trainers could pop his shoulder back into place in the clubhouse.
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