San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames was forced to leave Sunday afternoon's game against the Atlanta Braves due to lower back spasms. The issue forced him out of the game in the seventh inning after he went down swinging for the third time.
Adames described his condition as "tight" and "painful" after the Giants' 3-2 victory. He indicated that an MRI is likely and a return to the starting lineup for the team's upcoming series against the Diamondbacks on Monday is uncertain. The back problem has been a persistent issue for Adames for close to a week, and it worsened during his final at-bat on Sunday.
Casey Schmitt, who was already feeling unwell with the flu circulating in the clubhouse, was required to enter the game at shortstop. Manager Tony Vitello noted that the team was "a little short-handed" on the infield due to prior roster moves, leaving Schmitt as the only available infielder off the bench. Vitello lightheartedly described Schmitt's readiness for the unexpected defensive role.
Adames, 30, has experienced a challenging season both in terms of production and physical health. He is in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract. The current back issue comes after he previously missed a game due to discomfort in his "knee to hip" area and had another standard rest day earlier in the year. Adames stated that this season has been the most difficult he's experienced regarding his body.
Following a strong performance hitting two home runs in a doubleheader sweep of the Braves in Atlanta the previous week, Adames mentioned he was not feeling his best, which coincided with the onset of his back issues. In his last 18 games since June 6, Adames has recorded 11 hits and 23 strikeouts with a .159 batting average. His season on-base percentage of .275 would mark a career low, and his defensive performance at shortstop has been rated as the worst in Major League Baseball according to Statcast's Outs Above Average metric.
Adames' struggles have contributed to the Giants' disappointing season. As the team aims to build on their first winning homestand since late April, Adames' potential absence could impact their momentum. "It sucks," Adames said. "Obviously I want to be out there every day. It feels that we’re getting some momentum. That’s why I want to be out there."