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San Francisco Giants slugger Brandon Belt has been slowed by some right knee inflammation during spring training, and hasn’t been able to take the field yet.
He took some batting practice on Monday and is showing signs of improvement, so the news coming from the Giants’ camp seems to be positive, at least in regards to Belt.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he expects the slugging first baseman to be ready for Opening Day “as of now,” per The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly.
Kapler said he expects Brandon Belt to be ready for opening day “as of now.” Tommy La Stella, who is DHing today, is running at 80 percent intensity.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 29, 2022
Opening Day is a little over a week from now, so the team likes Belt’s chances of suiting up and being ready for that first series.
On the other hand, Evan Longoria (finger) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (knee) will open the regular season on the injured list.
Belt Will Try To Build Off A Career Year In 2021
Belt has been a very productive hitter during his MLB career, but injuries have derailed some of his seasons.
He is about to turn 34, but is coming off his best season in 2021.
Last year, he put up a career-high 29 home runs, as part of an organizational emphasis on hitting the ball hard consistently.
Overall, Belt hit .274/.378/.597 with the 29 round-trippers, 65 runs, and 59 RBI in just 97 games.
Had he played a little closer to 150 games, he could probably have pushed for 100 runs and RBI, but as it has been a common theme for him, he suffered untimely injuries.
He is expected to carry an important load in the Giants’ 2022 offense now that Kris Bryant decided to leave for the Colorado Rockies.
If he is truly healthy, he will be among the most productive lefty-hitting sluggers in the National League.
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