SAN FRANCISCO — A crushing injury and a looming game led to a roster change Tuesday afternoon.
Tyler Fitzgerald is back after a torrid week in Triple-A and the Giants also bought out the contracts of minor leaguers Spencer Howard and Trenton Brooks. LaMonte Wade Jr. is gone. To the IL a day after straining his left hamstring while running the bases, the Giants also DFA’d Drew Pomeranz and Ryan McKenna to make room for Howard and Brooks.
The moves add some balance to a roster that was in need of another left-handed bat after Wade went down. Brooks, 28, was acquired last summer from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for reliever Sean Newcomb. He had a .426 OBP at Triple-A and brings a similar profile to Wade, who leads the majors in that category.
With the departure of McKenna – a versatile outfielder – the Giants brought Fitzgerald back after he struck out six batters in six Triple-A games and won PCL Player of the Week honors. With both Marco Luciano and Brett Wiseley still at a high level, Fitzgerald is expected to spend most of his time on the field and as a runner.
Howard could fill multiple roles Tuesday night after Eric Miller’s home opener. The 27-year-old is a former second-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies and had a 5.90 ERA in Triple-A with 57 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings.
McKenna had just six hits after being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, but he helped the Giants pull off the win in New York by stealing second base off a home run for Wilmer Flores. Pomeranz was signed on the road trip but did not appear in any games during his second stint with the Giants.
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