Joe Panik shows he’s nearing return with great defensive play in rehab game
Joe Panik appears to be about ready for a return to the big leagues.
The San Francisco Giants second baseman was having a breakout season before going on the disabled list with lower back inflammation at the beginning of August. The 24-year-old was slashing .309/.374/.443 and was named to his first All-Star Game in July.
But if this web gem from a minor-league game on Thursday is any indication, Panik’s back is just fine and he should be back in the majors soon enough.
It was actually just his first rehab game so while his return may not be imminent, he isn’t showing much rust defensively. He showed no hesitation in sliding and bare-handing the ball to get the out at first. At the plate, he went 0-for-2 in Triple-A Sacramento’s 9-5 loss to Reno.
Since he hit the DL the Giants have gone 12-19 without him and fallen 6.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. They could use his glove and bat if they’re going to make it back to the postseason and attempt to defending their World Series title.
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Ian Denomme is an editor and writer for Yahoo Sports. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter.
