The SF Giants will have outfielder Mitch Haniger begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, according to a report by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Haniger will presumably join the Sacramento River Cats at Triple-A. The 32-year-old outfielder has been out since the middle of March with a grade 1 oblique strain. It looks like he may be able to make his regular-season debut with the team at some point during their next homestand.
Haniger was the Giants costliest free-agent signing this offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $43.5 million contract to join the team. A Mountain View, California native, Haniger has been an incredibly productive outfielder throughout his career. However, injuries have often limited his availability. From 2017-2022, Haniger only appeared in at least 100 games twice.
When healthy, though, Haniger has been a potent right-handed bat, particularly against left-handed pitching. Given the Giants early-season struggles against southpaws, getting Haniger back in the lineup would be a welcome sight.
Haniger was selected to the All-Star game in 2018 and finished 11th in American League Most Valuable Player Award voting that season. He hit .285/.366/.493 with 26 home runs. In 2021, Haniger blasted a career-high 39 homers with a .253/.318/.485 line.
The Giants are hopeful that Haniger can return to his previous levels of production. Haniger is coming off a down 2022 season when he only appeared in 57 games last season, and posted the worst triple-slash of his career with the Seattle Mariners (.246/.308/.429).
The Giants have been missing right-handed hitting outfielders Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger so far this season. Slater began a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A over the weekend, and it appears Haniger is not far behind. With Joc Pederson on the injured list and Michael Conforto dealing with a nagging injury, the SF Giants have been arguably missing their four best-hitting outfielders.
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