The San Francisco Giants began rebuilding their team in the offseason so they could compete with the World Series contending LA Dodgers and one of those players that was picked up in the offseason was long time Tampa Bay Rays Third Basemen Evan Longoria. Longoria has been one of the most reliable players during his career, finding ways to stay healthy and remain in the game but on Thursday, that all changed.
Longoria was hit by a pitch during their game with the Miami Marlins and information being released on Saturday says that the injury could force him on the sidelines for at least six to eight weeks. Longoria has chosen to have surgery to repair the injury on Tuesday and isn’t expected to make it back to the San Francisco Giants hot corner until after the All-Star break and possibly even as late as the middle of August.
Longoria fractured the fifth metacarpal on his left hand and will have surgery to repair the bone that is unstable. Longoria is a three time MLB All-Star and is in his first year with the Giants after spending 10 years with the Tampa Bay Rays. Longoria has played a very important part of this Giants team, hitting for average and power on the year.
Longoria is hitting .246 batting average in 67 games for the Giants and is second on the team in home runs with 10, behind only Brandon Belt who has hit 11 long balls. Longoria is surrounded by talent in the Giants lineup, including former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, whom Longoria is tied with for the leader on the team for RBI’s.
The Giants are certainly going to miss Longoria from their lineup, as they are right in the middle of a heated divisional race for the top spot in the National League West Division. The Giants are in fourth place, which may not seem very competitive but they are just three games under .500 with a 34-37 record and are just 5.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the top spot in the division. The Giants could very easily go on a run and put together a winning streak as they are coming up on back to back series against two of the National League’s weakest teams, Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
The problem is that run will need to be without Longoria, who will be replaced at third base by Alen Hanson. Hanson is a third year player who has shown signs of excitement this season. He is batting .320 over 75 plate appearances and has hit 5 home runs with 17 RBI’s. With Longoria on the sidelines until at least after All-Star Break, the young third basemen will get a chance to show off his skills and show the big ball club his potential.
In Hanson’s first game replacing Longoria, he went three for five with a double and a run scored in the teams 16 inning win over the Miami Marlins. Hanson was hitless in the past two games on Friday and Saturday against the Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.
