Tromp expected top prospect Bart to be called up
Rookie catcher Chadwick Tromp hardly was taken aback when the Giants made their longanticipated decision to promote Joey Bart. Tromp said he and his agent discussed the likelihood when they weighed minorleague offers over the winter and chose San Francisco.
“We understood what was going on,” Tromp said after he caught most of Tyler Anderson’s complete game against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. “We understood that Joey is a special player. He’s a franchise player. He’s a future multiple AllStar player.
“For me, the important thing was to get to the big leagues. Once you get to the big leagues, then wins matter. Whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I’m going to do. In general, that’s the job I have. That’s the job I will continue to have, as long as Joey is here, as long as anybody is here.”
Tromp has struggled at the plate since an early burst of hitting, taking a .191 average into Tuesday night’s game against the Dodgers. Fellow rookie Tyler Heineman was scuffling, too, and the organization thought he needed more work on his swing, which is why Heineman was optioned and Tromp stayed to become Bart’s backup.
Although that’s not a word the 25yearold Aruban would use.
“It was very fun working with Joey in spring training and in summer camp, and now we’re together in this,” he said. “It’s our job to help each other. I don’t think it’s a sub job at all.
“The job description stays the same: win.”
Outfield options: Hunter Pence’s dismissal and Austin Slater’s injury left the Giants short on righthandedhitting outfielders ahead of consecutive games against Dodgers lefties Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw. Mauricio Dubón and Darin Ruf are the righthanded choices and both started against Urias on Tuesday night.
Manager Gabe Kapler mentioned three others Tuesday who are part of the alternate camp in Sacramento: Jaylin Davis, Joey Rickard and newly acquired Daniel Robertson.
“These guys are all near, and we continue to examine it on a daybyday basis, gamebygame basis,” Kapler said.
Robertson primarily is an infielder but has told Kapler he is comfortable playing left field, too.
Slater (left groin strain) is eligible to come off the injured list Monday and is rehabbing, but the Giants’ injury report said he will not resume baseball activities until “later in the week.” Though a Monday return seems overly optimistic, Kapler did not rule it out. He also reported Slater is throwing with no ill effects from an earlier elbow injury.
Meanwhile, lefthandedhitting outfielder Chris Shaw posted an Instagram photo that suggests he has been added to the camp and 60man player pool.
Briefly: Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder inflammation) will throw his first bullpen Wednesday, which leaves him a way off from returning. Drew Smyly (finger sprain) could be closer. He throws for the second time off a mound Wednesday. Simulated games are the normal progression after a couple of bullpen sessions . ... Kapler said the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., was discussed in Tuesday’s coaches meeting. The manager has said he wants to keep the Black Lives Matters movement at the forefront in the clubhouse . ... Although reliever Jarlin Garcia was placed on the COVID19 injured list before summer camp began, the Giants did not acknowledge a positive test. During a pregame Zoom, Garcia said he indeed tested positive and had COVID19 symptoms, which were mild.
Henry Schulman covers the Giants for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: hschulman@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman