Giants announce Opening Day roster with three key players on IL originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The NL West title defense will start without any real surprises on the initial roster, but with three key Giants on the Injured List.
Tommy La Stella will begin the season on the sidelines as he continues to recover from Achilles surgery early in the offseason, joining Evan Longoria (finger surgery) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (knee), both of whom got hurt during spring training. La Stella played several games late in the spring but was scratched from Tuesday's lineup. He has had trouble running and fielding at full speed.
La Stella's injury opened the door for Luke Williams, a right-handed hitter who was picked up from the Philadelphia Phillies last month. The 25-year-old utility man has just 58 games of big league experience but had a strong spring, and he can play just about anywhere on the field. Jason Vosler, the other option to replace La Stella, was optioned to Triple-A.
The Giants are starting their year with 15 pitchers and 13 position players, taking advantage of the expanded roster to include two young pitchers who can give them length out of the bullpen: Right-hander Tyler Beede and left-hander Sam Long. Beede was out of options and would have gone on waivers or been traded had the Giants left him off.
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Here's the full roster for Friday's season opener against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park:
Pitchers (15)
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LHP José Álvarez, RHP Tyler Beede, RHP John Brebbia, RHP Alex Cobb, RHP Anthony DeSclafani, RHP Camilo Doval, LHP Jarlin García, RHP Dominic Leone, RHP Zack Littell, LHP Sam Long, LHP Jake McGee, LHP Carlos Rodón, RHP Tyler Rogers, RHP Logan Webb & LHP Alex Wood
Catchers (2)
Joey Bart & Curt Casali
Infielders (6)
Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Mauricio Dubón, Thairo Estrada, Wilmer Flores & Luke Williams
Outfielders (5)
Steven Duggar, Joc Pederson, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater & Mike Yastrzemski
