Giants Roster Moves
Giants activate Heliot Ramos from IL to DH, make additional roster changes
Key Points
Discrepancies exist about Ramos's IL duration: one report cites a 15-day IL, while another lists a 10-day IL, creating confusion over when he actually returned.
Victor Bericoto, a spring training invite, is slated to start in center field in the Braves series finale, while Jung Hoo Lee remains in right field due to Harrison Bader’s plantar fasitis absence.
Ramos’s activation followed a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento after a May 16 right quad strain; he was designated hitter and batted sixth in the finale.
Gregory Santos was reinstated from Sacramento’s 7-day IL and appeared in the Giants’ system upon his return, signaling continued bullpen depth at the minor-league level.
In his first notable return to action, Santos allowed three earned runs on two hits and three walks over two-thirds of an inning in Friday’s 13-6 win over Las Vegas, and his Triple-A numbers show a 6.14 ERA with a 1.83 WHIP across 14.2 innings in 13 appearances (one start).
The San Francisco Giants activated outfielder Heliot Ramos from the injured list on June 28, slotting him in as the designated hitter for the series finale against the Atlanta Braves. Ramos had been sidelined since May 16 with a right quad strain — a 37-game absence — before completing a seven-game rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento, where he batted .346 (9-for-26). MLB.com confirmed the activation.
To clear 40-man roster space, the Giants designated infielder Buddy Kennedy for assignment. Kennedy went 0-for-7 in his brief June stint. The team has seven days to trade or waive him before he can elect free agency, according to NBC Sports.
Ramos Returns as DH While Outfield Reshuffles
With Ramos easing back as the DH, the Giants shuffled their outfield around him. Jung Hoo Lee moved to right field. Rookie Victor Bericoto — a spring training invite who hit a walk-off home run against the Athletics on June 24 — started in center field. Harrison Bader, the intended starting center fielder, remained on the injured list with left plantar fasciitis.
Manager Tony Vitello explained the cautious approach to Ramos's return. "He's always full of energy... the guys love him. He's been one of the best guys against lefties, and it's good to have that threat back in there," Vitello told MLB.com. Starting Ramos at DH keeps him off the outfield grass at Oracle Park and protects the recovering quad.
Ramos's Numbers and the Bader Injury Domino Effect
Before his injury, Ramos posted a .267/.307/.424 slash line with 4 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 12 doubles across 176 plate appearances. His .308 average and .895 OPS against left-handed pitching made him a key weapon. DHing him against Braves ace Chris Sale is a deliberate "ease-in" strategy, according to analysts at MLB.com.
Bader's heel injury has driven the outfield chaos since May 30. Before landing on the IL, he hit just .170 with a .528 OPS in 30 games, per Athlon Sports. He received a stem-cell injection on June 5 and began a running progression by June 27 — but he remains weeks away from returning. Bericoto's surge in June (.279 average) has given Vitello a "good problem" if Bader's return drags further.
Gregory Santos Returns With Shaky Triple-A Numbers
Reliever Gregory Santos was reinstated from Sacramento's 7-day injured list on June 24 after a right adductor strain. His first major return appearance on June 26 against the Las Vegas Aviators did not inspire confidence. He allowed three earned runs on two hits and three walks in just two-thirds of an inning — throwing 32 pitches, only 16 for strikes, per RotoWire.
Santos now carries a 6.14 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP across 14.2 innings in 13 appearances at Sacramento. His 10 walks in those 14.2 innings signal that his command has not yet returned. RotoWire analysts flagged him as a "wait-and-see" candidate for fantasy purposes and for any near-term bullpen role with the big-league club.
IL Duration Discrepancy and What It Actually Means
Reporting on Ramos's IL stint contained a notable error. Several major outlets, including Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports, described him as returning from the "15-day injured list." But MLB.com transaction logs and RotoWire both list him on the "10-day injured list." Per MLB rules, position players are placed on the 10-day IL; the 15-day designation applies to pitchers.
The mix-up appears to stem from confusion with concurrent 15-day IL stints for Giants pitchers Tyler Mahle and Matt Gage. In practice, the distinction is moot — Ramos missed 37 games, far exceeding either minimum. But the discrepancy highlights a coordination gap between the team's PR staff and secondary news outlets, according to the MLB Transaction Portal.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
10
Articles
69
Reach
79
