Giants’ Panik has thumb surgery, out 6 weeks

SAN FRANCISCO — Second baseman Joe Panik had surgery on his left thumb Monday and will miss approximately six weeks, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Panik was injured on a tag play Friday night at second base involving Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants were concerned surgery was necessary, and a second opinion from Dr. Stephen Shin confirmed those fears.

“All went well,” Bochy said. “He had the ligament on the UCL repaired so we’re probably looking at around six weeks. They felt really good how everything we went, so he’ll be back up here tomorrow.”

Alen Hanson was scheduled to start Monday night against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park, with Kelby Tomlinson opening at shortstop to give Brandon Crawford a rest.

Panik, 27, has had a considerable injury history since joining the Giants in 2014.

In 2015, Panik had lower back issues that were eventually diagnosed as an L5 vertebra fracture. The following season, Panik missed most of the month of July with a concussion and recurring symptoms.

Bochy felt fortunate that the injury was to Panik’s glove hand, not to his throwing hand.

“I think he can ramp up the rehab a little bit more than if it was the right hand, whether it’s one-arm swinging,” Bochy said. “He can throw, he can do a lot of things with the right arm. You’ve got to keep the throwing arm in shape.”