SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Presented with a jersey and a silver sharpie at his locker Monday afternoon, Patrick Bailey had no problem gripping the marker and signing his name at the request of a team communications staffer.
The Giants’ catcher has been on the mend after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand last week, but shouldn’t be out of action much longer. A day after the incident he was unable to close his fist, so issuing signatures is a step in the right direction.
Better yet: Bailey resumed full baseball activities later Monday and, according to the club, could return to Cactus League play by the middle of the week.
“He’s done some stuff in the cage, he’s caught bullpens, (he’s) throwing,” Melvin said. “The one thing you worry about is maybe getting jammed hitting.”
Appearing in only six Cactus League games so far, Bailey has two hits in 11 at-bats, one of them being a home run, and has also drawn four walks. As long as he was able to get back into games before leaving Arizona, Melvin didn’t think it would impact his readiness for the season.
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Center fielder Jung Hoo Lee (hamstring) and utilityman Blake Sabol (groin) also resumed full baseball activities Monday.
Sidelined since Wednesday with a tight left hamstring, Lee will be reevaluated Tuesday to see how he responds to the sprint work before determining when he could return to game action. Sabol, who strained his groin running to first two weeks ago, could also return to Cactus League play by midweek, the team said.
Further off, Alex Cobb (hip) and Sean Hjelle (elbow) also continued to progress in their recoveries.
After pitching two innings at minor-league camp Saturday, Cobb is scheduled to throw a bullpen Tuesday as he begins to build up his workload. Hjelle, who was diagnosed with a sprain in his right elbow, is throwing off flat ground, out to 90 feet Tuesday and 105 on Thursday, according to the club.