Infielder acquired from Yanks added

DENVER — Catcher Aramis Garcia provided a scouting report on the newest Giant, 23-year-old infielder Abiatal Avelino, who Garcia saw when the Giants’ and Yankees’ Double-A teams met earlier this season:

“He has a lot of quirks with his pre-at-bat routine, and he’s pretty aggressive with that high leg kick,” Garcia said. “You have to see it.” Oh yeah. Avelino can rake. “We couldn’t get him out,” Garcia said. “Whatever we threw him, he was just on it. What really stood out was his bat. He was good at shortstop, too.”

Avelino was one of two prospects the Giants acquired Thursday from the Yankees for outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Avelino was one of the Eastern League’s top hitters during his second Double-A season before the Yankees promoted him to Triple-A, where his numbers tailed off. Still, he hit a combined 15 home runs.

The Giants brought Avelino to the majors Tuesday after he played three get-acquainted games at Triple-A Sacramento, where he was 2-for-13.

Manager Bruce Bochy plans to use him mostly as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner, although he could get some starts. Brandon Crawford has been nicked up. While the Giants love Alen Hanson’s defense at short, Hanson does not hit lefties well. Avelino is right-handed and could fill that void.

The other prospect who came to the Giants, 20-year-old right-hander Juan De Paula, made one start for the Giants’ low Class A team in Augusta, Ga., before the minor-league season ended. It was impressive. He allowed two hits and a run over five innings, walked one and struck out nine.

Samardzija update: The Giants placed Jeff Samardzija on the 60-day disabled list to clear a 40-man spot for Avelino. Samardzija’s injury-marred season is over after 10 starts, 442⁄3 innings, one win and a 6.25 ERA.

Samardzija is not even playing catch. He continues to strengthen the shoulder in the weight room and hopes to get an elusive consensus on the cause and potential treatments for his recurring injuries.

He is learning the hard way that two doctors can have differing opinions, neither of which is wrong.

“It’s not like one is an idiot and one is a genius,” Samardzija said, reiterating that surgery has been “ruled out.”

Briefly: The Giants also recalled infielder Ryder Jones from Sacramento. No other minor-leaguers will be promoted. … Steven Duggar underwent surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder, caused by the dislocation on a slide that ended his season. Bochy said the surgery yielded no surprises.