San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence is expected to miss six to eight weeks after suffering a non-displaced ulnar fracture in a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, according to a team announcement.
Hunter Pence expected to miss 6-8 weeks with forearm fracture after HBP
Bad things happen to the Giants in odd years. So far, 2015 is no different.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Pence was hit in the left forearm by a pitch from Cubs reliever Corey Black in the bottom of the sixth inning. The All-Star outfielder immediately left the game and was replaced on the bases by Mac Williamson.
San Francisco, trailing 5-0 at the time, scored a run in the inning and eventually rallied to win, 8-6.
Pence will likely be out until at least mid-April, meaning he'll miss his first big league games since 2012. Pence is the only player in baseball to play 162 games in each of the last two seasons. Only two players -- Adrian Gonzalez and Robinson Cano -- have appeared in more contests over the last seven seasons than Pence, per Baseball-Reference.
The injury is an inauspicious beginning to the Giants' defense of their third World Series championship in five seasons. Pence was instrumental in the team's last two championships, hitting .390/.435/.561 in 46 World Series place appearances. He has been very good overall in his two full seasons with the Giants, posting a .280/.335/.464 line -- good for a 127 OPS+ -- with 47 home runs since the start of 2013.
See More:
