How Ahmed’s return to Giants off IL impacts Wisely, Luciano originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – It took a little longer than initially expected, but shortstop Nick Ahmed is back with the Giants.
Ahmed was activated from the injured list prior to Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park. The two-time Gold Glove winner was out while recovering from a left wrist sprain he was injured after being hit by a line drive in early May.
Ahmed, who suffered a minor setback during rehabilitation, missed 30 games. He was batting .236 with 11 RBIs in 36 games before suffering the injury.
“Obviously it’s taken a little longer than originally anticipated, but pulses can be a little unpredictable,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “I know he’s happy to be back.”
Casey Schmitt, who split time with Brett Wisely while Ahmed was down, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room on the roster.
Wisely has been one of San Francisco’s best hitters of late, with a .317 batting average entering Friday’s game after going 19-for-55 (.345) in his last 16 games.
Melvin was asked about the notion of platooning Ahmed and the left-hander hitting wisely.
“Brett is going to play too,” Melvin said. “Wisely played well, so we’ll see how that works out.”
Marco Luciano was also reinstated to the IL and optioned to Sacramento on Thursday. The Giants’ top outfield prospect has hopes of returning to the majors after a very uneven nine-game stint with the big league club earlier this season. Luciano hit .375 and had three multi-hit games, but committed five errors, four of them in the ninth inning or later.
Melvin and Giants brass remain confident in Luciano’s abilities.
“His batting was great. It was a little defensive on the field, and that could affect it a little,” said Melvin. “He has the ability to play well there. He just (has to) organize some games in which he feels good defensively. He definitely has the ability to do that. When he came here last year, he played really well defensively.”
