New backup catcher should be ready for opener after surgery

Giants catcher Curt Casali, who signed a oneyear contract in early January to be Buster Posey’s backup, is recovering from hamate surgery and is expected to be healthy for the season opener.

Casali had surgery Dec. 18 to remove the hook of the hamate in his left hand. He’s being eased into spring training, and the club anticipates he’ll get enough reps on offense and defense to be on the Opening Day roster.

The Giants knew about the surgery when they signed him to a $1.5 million deal (he was subject to a physical like any new player) and figured he’d have enough time to recover.

Casali can earn a $500,000 bonus by assuming an Opening Day roster spot — if not, he could make up for it by earning $125,000 sums for being on the roster 30, 60, 90 and 120 days.

A Walnut Creek native who was raised in Connecticut, Casali has been in the big leagues for seven seasons with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati and last year posted a .366 onbase percentage with six homers in 76 atbats with the Reds.

Moronta’s conditioning: Reyes Moronta entered spring training with a goal to win the closer’s job.

“Of course,” he said. “That has been my dream, to be a closer in the big leagues.”

Long considered a ninthinning candidate, Moronta was sidetracked by shoulder surgery late in the 2019 season and missed all of last year, though he did throw at the Giants’ alternate camp in Sacramento.

Moronta, whose 2019 ERA was 2.86 in 56 outings, said Friday he feels good but could afford to shed some weight. He’s listed at 5foot10 and 265 pounds, and the coaching staff challenged him to amp up his conditioning in the offseason.

“I feel right at this weight,” he said. “However, I know that I can maybe lose a few more pounds. I think that losing some pounds will give me more strength, will keep me healthier, will give me more strength to throw more innings. But I feel good at this weight right now.”

Manager Gabe Kapler was complimentary of the work Moronta put in and expressed no concern with the shape he’s in, saying, “Weight is not necessarily the best way to measure conditioning. What we want with Reyes, and generally with all our players, is to be able to move their body well in the activities they need to perform.”

Briefly: Tyler Beede threw Friday in the low 90s, a good sign for him since he is coming off Tommy John surgery, and he could join the Giants well before the AllStar break. Kapler said it’s premature to say whether Beede will face hitters in spring training . ... Kapler praised Tristan Beck (Stanford) for his smooth delivery. “Looks like a fluid majorleaguer on the mound,” Kapler said.