The 2024 San Francisco Giants are off to a rough start, currently sitting at a record of 19-24 and in fourth place in the National League West. Despite having what was considered one of the best offseasons in baseball, a majority of their new acquisitions have not yet lived up to expectations and many find themselves on the injured list. One of these acquisitions is designated hitter Jorge Soler, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the team this offseason. Soler was recently placed on the injured list with a shoulder issue but seemed to be making progress until a bizarre incident occurred during batting practice.
During batting practice, Soler hit a ball that went straight up, hit the top of the cage, and came back down to hit him on the head. This unexpected incident has left his status uncertain and added to the injury concerns for the Giants. Soler has been struggling in his first season with the team, with a batting average of just .202 and a .655 OPS, which would be the lowest of his career since 2017. The Giants are currently dealing with a number of injuries to key players, including major free agent acquisitions such as pitcher Blake Snell and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, who was placed on the injured list with a dislocated shoulder.
In addition to Soler and Lee, other key Giants players on the injured list include shortstop Nick Ahmed, catchers Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy, outfielders Michael Conforto and Austin Slater, and pitchers Alex Cobb, Tristan Beck, and Robbie Ray. The team is hoping for positive news regarding Soler, who had a standout season in 2023 with the Miami Marlins, slashing .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs and 75 RBIs. The Giants are still early in the season and have time to turn things around, but the injury issues are definitely hindering their progress.
The Giants are facing a challenging start to the 2024 season, with multiple key players sidelined due to injuries. The curse seems to be haunting the team, as they have yet to see the full impact of their offseason acquisitions on the field. Despite having talented players like Soler, the team has struggled to find their rhythm and is currently below expectations in the standings. The road ahead for the Giants will be tough, as they work to overcome the injury setbacks and find a way to turn their season around.
