Harrison Bader's first season with the San Francisco Giants has concluded prematurely due to a scooter accident that occurred late Saturday or early Sunday morning. Manager Tony Vitello confirmed Thursday that the outfielder, who had been sidelined by plantar fasciitis, suffered additional injury to his left foot in the incident.
Bader, who has not played since May 29, was originally scheduled to travel to Indianapolis to consult a specialist for his foot issue. However, the scooter accident complicated the situation, with the team stating the impact of the crash altered the nature of his evaluation. Bader was set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injuries sustained in the accident.
Prior to the crash, Bader had already been limited to only 30 games in his first season with the Giants. He signed a two-year, $20 million contract in the offseason but has been hampered by a hamstring strain and the persistent plantar fasciitis. His performance also reflected the struggles, with career-lows in batting average (.170) and OPS (.557) over 111 plate appearances, though he did hit five home runs, including two grand slams.
Details surrounding the accident remain somewhat unclear. Official statements from the San Francisco Fire and Police departments indicated Bader was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries around 2 a.m. Sunday morning. The incident reportedly occurred in the Marina district. A witness told SFist that the crash happened outside the Balboa Cafe and involved a San Francisco Fire Department vehicle, with Bader's scooter colliding with the back of a fire truck. Multiple witnesses cited by KPIX suggested Bader had been drinking at bars prior to the incident.
Vitello expressed concern for Bader's well-being and acknowledged that the accident would delay his recovery process. He noted that even before the crash, Bader faced a "long runway" before returning to the field.
The Giants have not yet commented on potential disciplinary action. Contracts can include clauses prohibiting motorized scooter use, and while the team's front office is reviewing the circumstances, Vitello stated that any disciplinary decisions would not be his to make. He did not rule out the possibility, depending on the findings.
Vitello has expressed a general disapproval of scooters as a mode of transportation, citing risks and past incidents involving athletes, including a former player at the University of Tennessee who was injured in a scooter accident. Bader himself was suspended at the University of Florida after crashing a scooter while allegedly intoxicated.