SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants reliever Reyes Moronta got good news when Dr. Neal ElAttrache cut into his shoulder, but good news is still a relative term when you're talking about a shoulder injury.
Moronta did not need to have his right shoulder capsule repaired, but the labrum was damaged and needed repair, and the initial diagnosis is that Moronta will miss nine to 11 months. Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Moronta will likely be on the 11-month end of that rehab schedule. The Giants do not expect him back until next August, but it could have been a longer process had the capsule been damaged.
"That's a little bit less work as far as rehab that he has to deal with," Bochy said.
Still, the Giants cannot go into 2020 expecting anything from a young right-hander who at one time looked like their next closer. That adds another wrinkle as they try to rebuild their bullpen in the offseason. Among all of Bochy's currently available relievers, Sam Coonrod is the leader in appearances.
Tony Watson is likely out for the year with a wrist injury and Will Smith remains out with a sore back, although he could return this weekend. Trevor Gott is done for the year with an elbow injury and has not resumed throwing.
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Moronta was the one late-innings reliever the Giants knew they had under team control -- he is arbitration-eligible after next season -- but he went down while throwing a pitch Aug. 31 against the Padres. That brought an end to a third consecutive strong season.
Moronta had a 2.86 ERA in 56 appearances and has a 2.66 ERA in the big leagues.
