Giants Welcome Veteran Back For Season Debut

Saying it's "like Christmas morning!", the San Francisco Giants' long-time veteran third baseman Evan Longoria is glad to be back. He made his season debut Wednesday afternoon at third base, just a few days earlier than expected, after recovering from finger surgery in spring training to repair a ligament tear. 

Third baseman Evan Longoria back in Giants’ lineup earlier than expected, "like Christmas morning!" https://t.co/oixWgUlbSA via @sfchronicle

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) May 11, 2022

Five different players have started games in Longoria's absence over the past five weeks, and they've filled in well, batting a combined .277 with a .766 OPS.  

The 36-year-old veteran had five rehab games at Triple-A, where he batted .278, while admitting that after being in the big leagues for so long (14 years prior to this season), he's "a little jaded" at playing in the minors, and has trouble focusing down there. 

Longoria had his best season in years in 2021, batting .261 with an .833 OPS, with 13 HR and 46 RBIs in just 81 games. He suffered a shoulder injury in June that kept him out of the lineup for two months. He returned for some of August and all of September, but his production waned. 

He's stepped right into the No. 3 spot in the batting order for the Giants game with the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. 

To make room on the roster, reliever Jake McGee was placed on the 15-day IL with lower back tightness.

Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports