Giants make 10 roster moves, place Adames, Bericoto, Brubaker on injured list

The San Francisco Giants had a vastly different active roster on Monday than the one they had just 24 hours earlier. Shortstop Willy Adames, outfielder Victor Bericoto, and right-hander JT Brubaker were all added to the injured list, while five other players were promoted from Triple-A Sacramento. In total, the team made 10 transactions ahead of their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park.

Adames was moved to the 10-day injured list with a left elbow sprain. According to the team, an MRI revealed a moderate sprain, and he was scheduled to meet with team doctors later Monday. Manager Tony Vitello said Adames will miss more than 10 days, but the team is optimistic the veteran can return before the season ends in late September.

The injury occurred in the top of the first inning Sunday when Adames slid into home plate and collided with Red Sox catcher Connor Wong. He remained in the game until the bottom of the fifth after striking out in the top half. Adames, who has also been bothered by a bad back this season, had been swinging the bat well recently. After missing a week, he returned to the lineup on Aug. 19 and posted a 1.064 OPS with two homers and three RBI in his last five games.

Vitello said everyone saw the replay of the catcher’s knee jamming into Adames’s elbow. “I think initially it kind of scared him. … He knew something was wrong, and he didn’t look like himself that third at bat,” Vitello said. “He’s been swinging the bat really well, so it was wise of everyone to agree to get him out of the game, and he’ll need a little bit of time. Maybe that’ll help his back as well. But it’d be nice to get him back before the season ends and get him back in that rhythm he was.”

Bericoto was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee bone bruise. He injured his knee in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday while attempting to catch a fly ball in foul territory. A fan interfered with the ball, resulting in an automatic out. Bericoto said he turned away to avoid being hit in the face and twisted his knee when he stepped. He walked off the field under his own power but was lifted for pinch hitter Drew Gilbert, who took over in left field. Bericoto said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros that he is sore but does not believe the ailment is serious.

Brubaker was placed on the 15-day injured list with bruised ribs. He was hurt in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday when he dove to catch a bunt by Red Sox outfielder Eli White.

The Giants also moved infielder Bryce Eldridge to the bereavement list following the recent death of his grandfather. Additionally, they optioned pitcher Matt Wilkinson to Triple-A Sacramento. Wilkinson, a 23-year-old left-hander nicknamed “Tugboat,” allowed four earned runs over 5.2 innings in two MLB appearances. In the minors, he has a 3.40 ERA over 90 innings with 96 strikeouts in 20 starts. Vitello said Wilkinson could return for Saturday’s doubleheader against the Diamondbacks.

To fill the roster, the Giants recalled infielder Nate Furman, outfielder Grant McCray, pitcher Anthony Molina, pitcher Ryan Walker, and infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sacramento. In Monday’s lineup, Christian Koss started at shortstop batting ninth, Jung Hoo Lee served as the designated hitter batting third, Drew Gilbert started in center field and led off, Turner Hill played left field batting fourth, and McCray played right field batting eighth. Whitcomb played third base batting seventh, and Furman started at second base. Rafael Devers started at first base for the Giants.

Following Monday’s series opener, the Giants have 31 games left over the final 34 days. They wrap up August with a three-game set against the Reds, followed by a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks that includes a doubleheader on Saturday. On Aug. 31, they play a makeup game against the Atlanta Braves.

The Giants provided updates on several other injured players. Pitcher Matt Gage is on a rehab assignment, and pitcher Jesus Rodriguez began a rehab assignment on Sunday. Infielder Marcelo Mayer is on a rehab-only path as the franchise evaluates a left ulna bone stress reaction. The team announced on Friday that Mayer also has a right foot bone bruise separate from the stress reaction in his left forearm.

Before Monday, Devers had played first base in 89 of the Giants’ 130 games this season, committing seven errors for a .991 fielding percentage. Eldridge had played first base in each of the Giants’ last 11 games, committing one error and collecting nine assists, and hit .275 with three home runs and a .870 OPS in that span. The Giants have lost Matt Chapman, Casey Schmitt, Daniel Susac, and Harrison Bader to injury and traded away Luis Arraez and Heliot Ramos.