Reliever slowed by finger injury
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Relief prospect Julian
Fernandez missed a planned bullpen session and will be set back a day or two after cutting the index finger on his right hand while reaching into his locker in the clubhouse.
“We don’t think it’s serious at all,” manager Bruce Bochy.
Fernandez is an intriguing case and will get a long look this spring.
The Giants selected the 22-year-old from the Rockies in December’s Rule 5 draft. Under the rule, he must stay with the big club all season or be offered back to Colorado. The Giants are hoping to keep him even though he has not thrown a pitch above Class A.
The upside is a 100 mph fastball and strikeout stuff. The downside is lack of experience against higher-level hitters in the minors. Players generally do not leap directly from Class A to the majors. Longoria on Rays: New third baseman Evan Longoria has been in Arizona for weeks, so Sunday’s official position-player reporting date was a formality. He took his physical, then expressed disappointment with his old team, the Tampa Bay Rays.
Not for trading him to the Giants, but for designating for assignment outfielder Corey Dickerson on Saturday to save money shortly after they traded pitcher Jake Odorizzi to the Twins for the same reason.
“It’s kind of a shame,” Longoria said of the Dickerson move. “I don’t understand it. The guy was an All-Star last year. He’s in his early prime. I think he’s 27 years old. He’s still controllable.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me. It didn’t make sense to a lot of people. Corey will end up somewhere and continue to be the player that he is. But I kind of just feel bad for the Rays’ fan base.” Briefly: Knowing that position players will participate in just four official workouts before games begin Friday, the staff asked them to go to high schools and colleges near their homes before coming to camp to drill themselves on skills such as sliding. … Left-handed reliever Tony Watson is expected to complete his physical Monday, when his free-agent deal could be announced.