All you need to know about what happened to Mitch Haniger and how long he will be out for the San Francisco Giants.
In the game against the St. Louis Cardinals that took place last night, outfielder Mitch Haniger of the San Francisco Giants suffered a fracture to his right forearm. During the third inning, Haniger was checking his swing when he got struck by a pitch from Jack Flaherty. He left the field immediately, and Blake Sabol took over playing left field in his place. Unfortunately, x-rays revealed the fracture almost immediately, which will almost certainly result in yet another extended period of time spent on the injured list.
The seasoned outfielder has had a string of terrible luck recently. Throughout his career, Haniger has dealt with a number of injury troubles, including some random issues that have forced him to miss significant time on the sidelines. A testicular rupture he had in 2019 after fouling a ball off himself led to the need for multiple core operations, which ultimately cost him the entire year of 2020 to recover from. After missing a significant portion of the previous season due to a severe ankle sprain in his right leg, he came back for the entirety of the 2021 campaign.
Despite Haniger’s long history of injuries, the Giants decided to take a chance on his potential offensive upside. A post-2024 opt-out clause was included in the free agency contract that he signed with San Francisco, which guaranteed him $43.5 million over the course of three years. The agreement’s first season did not go as smoothly as had been anticipated. After experiencing an oblique injury during Spring Training, Haniger began the year on the injured list. He came back in late April, but he took things cautiously at first, hitting.230/.281/.372 in 160 at-bats with his new team throughout the course of the season.
Since Haniger will now be returning to the injured list, the Giants will have a vacancy in the outfield that they will need to fill. In spite of the fact that they could use Blake Sabol or Austin Slater more regularly alongside Michael Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski, it appears that they are contemplating calling up one of their top prospects rather than doing so.
Mitch Haniger was drafted into Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2012. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the MLB Draft, with the 38th overall pick. This marked the beginning of his journey to the big leagues.
Prior to his professional career, Haniger showcased his talents at both the college and high school levels. He attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California, where he excelled as a baseball player. Haniger’s standout performances earned him recognition as a top prospect, and he was named the Central Coast Section Player of the Year in his senior season.
After graduating from high school, Haniger went on to attend California Polytechnic State University, also known as Cal Poly. He continued to impress as a college player, making a significant impact both offensively and defensively. Haniger’s exceptional skills and dedication earned him numerous accolades, including being named to the All-Big West Conference First Team in 2010 and 2011.
With his college career coming to a close, Haniger’s talent and potential caught the attention of MLB scouts. The Milwaukee Brewers saw his promise and drafted him in the first round, providing him with the opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing professional baseball. Haniger spent several years working his way through the Brewers’ minor league system, honing his skills and gaining valuable experience. In 2014, he made his MLB debut with the Brewers, appearing in 34 games. However, it was in 2016 that Haniger truly began to establish himself as a rising star.
In a trade between the Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Haniger was acquired by the Diamondbacks organization. He made his mark with the Diamondbacks in the 2017 season, showcasing his power-hitting ability and defensive prowess. Haniger’s breakout year came in 2018 when he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He became a key player for the Mariners, earning an All-Star selection that season.
Read More:
Follow our dedicated page for MLB for instant news and updates.