The Giants put outfielders Harrison Bader again Jared Oliva on the 10-day injured list, according to the club’s announcement. The former suffered a hamstring injury, while the latter was found to have a hamate fracture, possibly indicating a significant absence. Bader’s IL placement will resume until April 12. Outdoor partners Is Brennan again Drew Gilbert they were recalled to Triple-A in their area.
Bader, 31, got off to a rough start in his new position. Signed to a two-year, $20.5MM contract in free agency, he began his tenure with . The longtime defensive standout had one of his best seasons at the plate in 2025, hitting .277/.347/.449 with a career-best 17 homers in 501 plate appearances between Minnesota and Philadelphia.
It’s obviously too early to sound the alarm, but it’s a 15-game hitting streak for Bader, who hasn’t had a hit like this since 2018 with the Cardinals. Bader’s strikeout rate on balls from the plate is up six percent this year, while his contact rate on ground balls is down more than three percent. He has been very aggressive at the start of his plate appearances and often finds himself behind in the count as a result.
The Giants haven’t given a firm timetable, but Bader will be out next week—at least once. If it’s long enough to stay in the IL, he may need a minor league rehab. Meanwhile, San Francisco can slide Jung Hoo Lee go back to center field or give Gilbert and Brennan some of that work. Lee didn’t fare well during his time as a center fielder in the majors — which was part of the Giants’ motivation for signing Bader, who has always been ranked as one of the game’s best defenders. Gilbert played all three outfield positions in Triple-A this season, spending most of his time in center. Brennan only played 2026 corners but has nearly 1800 professional innings in center field.
As for the 30-year-old Oliva, this is his first major league season since 2021 with the Pirates. He has played in seven games but has been a defensive lineman and a small runner. He has seven at-bats and one strikeout in that span.
Oliva impressed the Giants with added speed and outside range in camp this spring. In 20 games/46 plate appearances, he swiped a ridiculous 14 bags while swinging a solid .375/.444/.550 batting line. That was enough for Oliva to earn a spot on the roster, even pushing him out of the top picks. Luis Matos he went out the door.
Hamate fractures usually require surgery and have a recovery time of between four and eight weeks. Every example is different, of course, but that general outline is at least worth noting. It is doubtful that Oliva will return before mid-May, and his absence could last at least until mid-June. Assuming Bader returns to the bullpen ahead of Oliva, Gilbert stands as a natural choice to fill the backup outfield role that Oliva has held all season.
