Morse back with S.F.

Michael Morse grabbed a bat from the rack at AT&T Park and had to laugh at how he got there Wednesday: an all-but retired player making a gentlemen’s agreement with general manager Bobby Evans at Hunter Pence’s wedding to come to spring training on a minor-league deal, to see if he had anything left, with the promise he could leave anytime if he thought he was done.

When Denard Span’s recovery from a sprain near his right shoulder took a turn for the worse, the Giants placed him on the 10-day disabled list and purchased Morse’s contract from Triple-A Sacramento, where he had been rehabbing a hamstring injury.

Morse quickly paid dividends. As a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, he took the Dodgers’ Pedro Baez deep to left-center to tie the game 3-3.

He joined a major-league roster for the first time since the Pirates released him in April of last year, and donned a Giants uniform for the first time since Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. Morse helped get them there with his tying homer in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

Morse was 5-for-20 combined at Class A San Jose and Sacramento, but understands that his promotion (and maybe that of 21-year-old Christian Arroyo) was done partly to inject life into a clubhouse deadened by losing and injuries.

Morse knows that is one reason he is here.

“I’ve always believed if you have fun, no matter what, good things are going to happen,” he said. “If there’s one thing I can bring, it’s fun, excitement and atmosphere. We just need to get that Giants feeling back, a little reminder of who we are and what we can accomplish.”

Morse was on the verge of making the team in spring training when he injured his hamstring, and said he just wants to pick up where he left off in Scottsdale. He enjoyed his time rehabbing in the minors but said, “The big leagues, there’s nothing like it. I’ve been here. I’ve done it and I’m ready to go.”

Span’s trip to the DL is retroactive to Sunday, so he is eligible to return Wednesday, the last of three games in Los Angeles. He might need longer. He was out two weeks with the Twins in 2012 when he sprained the same joint.

The Giants also promoted infielder Kelby Tomlinson to replace Brandon Crawford, who was placed on the threeday bereavement list but probably will be out longer after straining his right groin running the bases Tuesday night. Tomlinson will start at second base Thursday as Joe Panik gets a day off.

If the Giants place Crawford on the 10-day DL when he returns, the three days on the bereavement list will count against the 10.

To clear a 40-man spot for Morse, the Giants moved Jarrett Parker (broken collarbone) to the 60-day DL.