SAN FRANCISCO - Austin Slater is quietly one of the fastest players in the Giants organization, but at some point this week, he will hope for the best from a slow jog.
Slater is nearly to the point where he'll be cleared to start running, and if that goes well, the Giants will increase his activity and start to target a rehab assignment. The rookie outfielder has missed 35 games with a right groin strain but the Giants are confident Slater will return in September. Originally, there was some thought that he would be out the rest of the year. Slater should begin running this week.
"Running is the biggest hurdle," Slater said. "I've been throwing and swinging. I'm swinging at 100 percent. That's where the optimism comes in."
Slater will take batting practice with the team on Friday. It'll be his first time doing that since he went down in the second week of July. He has mostly been doing agility work in recent days and said it has gone well.
Elsewhere on the injury front, there is good news and bad news. Miguel Gomez had a setback with his knee and he won't start a rehab assignment as hoped. Gomez is in a holding pattern for now, but Bochy believes the Giants are fine on the infield. In an emergency, Buster Posey can play first and Ryder Jones can back up other infield positions. Orlando Calixte also provides coverage.
The good news is that Johnny Cueto will throw another bullpen session on Friday. He could pitch a rehab game soon. Also, here are updates on Brandon Belt and Joe Panik.
