The Giants have placed first baseman Brandon Belt on the 10-day injured list due to discomfort in his bothersome right knee, per a team announcement. Outfielder Bryce Johnson has been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento take his spot on the roster.
Belt, 34, has been battling chronic knee issues for much of the season and acknowledged in a candid interview with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser yesterday that the injury could well impact his baseball future. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about what happens if I’m not able to bounce back,” Belt told Slusser. “But I don’t like thinking about it, because it’s kind of upsetting.”
With two surgeries on that problematic knee already in the rear-view mirror, Belt added to Slusser that he’s “not sure there is anything else that can be done.” Belt has had his knee drained three times already this season, per Slusser.
It’s been a tough season for Belt, who’s hitting .213/.326/.350 on the year with just 18 extra-base hits (eight homers, nine doubles, one triple). From 2020-21, Belt was one of the best hitters in all of baseball, logging a combined .285/.393/.595 batting line with 38 home runs in 560 plate appearances. Among qualified hitters in that time, Belt’s .302/.404/.638 slash and 175 wRC+ against right-handed pitching trailed only Bryce Harper and Juan Soto for tops in Major League Baseball.
This year has been another story entirely, as Belt has been prone to prolonged slumps while navigating the ongoing troubles with his knee. He’s hitting just .150/.269/.200 over his past 25 games and has just two hits and five walks in his past 45 trips to the plate. He’s maintained a keen eye and knowledge of the strike zone, evidenced by this season’s 12.4% walk rate, but Belt has also seen his average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate all decline noticeably from that 2020-21 peak. A timetable for Belt’s return hasn’t been provided, but given the recent struggles, there’s a clear need to get him some rest and hope that’ll alleviate some of the discomfort that has contributed heavily this swoon.
Johnson, 26, made his big league debut earlier this season but was held hitless in a tiny sample of four plate appearances spread across four games. He’s hitting .287/.358/.398 in 287 Triple-A plate appearances — a similar but slightly diminished follow-up to last year’s .286/.377/.433 slash in 407 plate appearances at this same level.
A 2017 sixth-rounder, Johnson has never ranked among the system’s very best prospects, but he’s provided average or better offense at just about every minor league spot while serving as a prolific base thief. The speed that makes him a threat on the bases also led to plus scouting grades on his glove in center dating back to his college days. He’ll give the Giants a switch-hitting option who can plug in at any of the three outfield spots for the time being.
Career wRC+
Belt – 125
Machado – 122
Arenado – 121
?? And your point? Or are you just arguing with air about something no one said?
@semut I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing. He just posted a stat and then you tried to start an argument. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Midnight – nice reading comprehension! I wasn’t taking issue with him arguing his point. My question was (and still is) who he was replying to, or if he’s just arguing with thin air
You’re assuming they’re trying to argue or make a response. Sometimes things aren’t inherently confrontational, like a fun fact or interesting tidbit.
Could be some commentary that Belt isn’t held in the same echelon of hitter by the larger baseball community. Even that interpretation isn’t automatically a response or argument with someone else… it could simply be an observation.
Speaking of reading comprehension, why do you assume he’s arguing Betty?
I mean, sure. But the other two guys are two of the best defensive players of their era
Belt.. isn’t
@before, Belt has been a pretty darn good 1st basemen. His height has been an asset, he picks well…..that said, overall, I think Belt is done. I’ve been a mild supporter over the years, but, it’s time for him to go hang up the cleats.
He might still have something to offer, but more as a DH or part time player that would require less of a toll on his body.
A useless statistic is what that is. The dude misses fifty games a year on average has never driven in more than 82 runs, he’s hit over 18 HRs once, never scored 80 runs, and is a career .260 hitter. Let’s go find the one stat he beats out players whose jocks he couldn’t carry that sounds fun. Remind me again does wRC+ take into consideration what the player ate for breakfast and which leg he put into his pants first?
You call it a useless statistic, then cite RBI first and foremost…
It’s a shame how much injuries have derailed this guys career. Still amassed a 28 career WAR while missing what seems like 40% of the time he could have been playing. Hopefully this isn’t the end for him, but at 34 it’s very unlikely the injuries are ever going to stop for him.
He’s missed half the season to issues with a knee he admits is already bone-on-bone (no cartilage left). This being his walk year, his best bet to continue his career is a short DH deal for reduced money.
213/326/350 is a pretty miserable DH
Never said it was a good bet, and the giants seem to be rebuilding, so he may play next year, but I wouldn’t count on him for a fantasy team.
Not too biased are you @Before McCourt? If there was any validity to one bad season, there’s no way the Dodgers extend Muncy, who’s hitting .189/.326/.389 this season.
If he can stay healthy I think he’s more in the range of 250/350/450, which for the right price could be attractive.
Never hit 30 homers such a shame
Lyman Bostock:
I’m guessing that 40% missed games was just an estimate, since it’s kind of high. Based on 150 games, as playing full time every year, he’s played in almost 80%. So your estimate is nearly double of the games he’s missed.
Over his career, he’s averaged 423 PAs per season. But I get what you’re saying because it certainly seems like he’s gone as much as he’s on the field in recent years.
Giants are a dumpster fire. And that makes me happy.
R U A R son ist
Sry B Belt injured list rest of year.
he’s gonna retire after this year I’m calling it
If his knee is never gonna get any better there’s really no other choice unless he uses a Segue to run the bases.
Belt has been total let down this year. Not the CAPTAIN he designated himself.
He only likes being the captain after wins
……with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
Nice try though, sook.
It’s time to move on, it’s time to get going
What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing
It’s time to move on, time to get going
Over/under odds that Belt retires this winter?
Don’t know, but he aint coming back on the Giants. $18.9M . . . what a waste of money.
Rsox, explain how over/under applies to will/won’t retire.
Over or under 20% do you believe Belt will retire
70% chance he retires. Way over your 20% and thanks. Still not a bet there though, but close. So let’s set odds, will retire -275 and won’t about +200. Will is the favorite.
It depends on his health. If the knee responds to treatment he could come back next year and be a good, inexpensive pick up for some team.
But if the knee continues to be a chronic issue, I think he retires. Teams seeing his medicals might offer a MiL deal, but not sure he’d want that if he’s not even somewhat healthy.
I could be wrong, but if I had to bet, I’d say he retires, only because I think the problem is chronic, surgery isn’t going to fix it enough for the demands of a baseball season, and it’s just not going to be good enough for him.
Brandon “balsa wood” Belt
Dude was an above-average defensively first baseman who could never stay healthy long enough to fulfill his potential. He’s not the first nor the last who that applies to, but he got his money so that he can step off the grid if he needs to and get healthy for the rest of his life. I wish him the best, as he was a good Giant.
First base is a position where the Giants do have minor league options over the coming years, if Farhan would just focus on putting players at positions based on their ability to defend at that position, rather than the interchangeable parts/dumpster-diving approach plaguing us after last year’s overachievement.