Giants catcher Buster Posey left Monday night’s game with a left thumb contusion after he was struck by a foul ball by the Diamondbacks’ Daulton Varsho. Posey stayed in the game for the remainder of Varsho’s at-bat but was then replaced behind the plate by backup Curt Casali.
X-rays were negative on Posey’s thumb, as reported by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly (Twitter links) and other journalists following the game. This is undoubtedly a huge sigh of relief for the team and San Francisco fans, considering how a more severe injury could have threatened to derail both the Giants’ dream season and Posey’s big comeback year. The veteran is hitting .328/.421/.547 with 12 home runs through 233 plate appearances, and is on pace for his best season since his MVP campaign in 2012.
Posey’s resurgence earned him a well-deserved starting slot on the NL All-Star team, although his participation in his seventh Midsummer Classic might now be up in the air if the Giants want him to take it easy in the wake of this injury. An injured list visit might not be entirely out of the question, although Baggarly notes that Posey was already scheduled to sit during Monday’s game with the Cardinals. The Giants also have an off-day on Thursday, so this rest might be enough for Posey to avoid the IL.
Casali has posted some decent numbers during his career but hasn’t produced much in 2021, hitting only .192/.298/.313 in 114 PA. He could handle the starting duties in the event of a brief Posey IL stint, and Chadwick Tromp would likely be called up from Triple-A for backup duty. Top prospect Joey Bart is demolishing pitching at Triple-A, although he is dealing with his own injury after being hit by a pitch on his foot during Friday’s game.
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