San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader sustained a new injury to his left foot in a late-night scooter accident in San Francisco, exacerbating an existing plantar fasciitis issue. The incident occurred shortly before Bader was scheduled to visit a foot and ankle specialist in Indianapolis.
Bader still attended his scheduled appointment, but the new injuries altered the evaluation. He returned to San Francisco for further examination by team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki and was slated for an MRI to assess the extent of the damage. "Obviously, he’s not better than he was prior to that," manager Tony Vitello stated. "It’s going to delay the recovery process for him, but even prior to it, you’re looking at a pretty frustrating long runway."
The accident adds an unusual chapter to a challenging season for the Giants. Bader, who signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract in January, has been limited to 30 games due to hamstring and foot problems. His performance has fallen short of expectations, with a .170 batting average, a .198 on-base percentage, and a .358 slugging percentage.
This is not Bader's first incident involving a scooter; he was suspended from team activities at the University of Florida in 2014 following a similar late-night crash.
Bader's setback is part of a series of significant injury news for the Giants. Catcher Casey Schmitt suffered a torn meniscus while rounding first base and may miss the rest of the season. Pitcher Trevor McDonald is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, likely sidelining him for the entire 2027 season.
These player issues come as the Giants are 16 games below .500 and appear poised to be sellers at the trade deadline. Several players, including Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle, and Luis Arráez, could be traded. The team is also facing the possibility of its first 90-loss season since 2017, marked by disappointing performance, numerous injuries, and trade uncertainty.