The San Francisco Giants’ season, already teetering on the edge of disaster, took an unexpected turn for the worse with an unusual incident involving Harrison Bader.
Bader had plans to meet with a foot and ankle specialist in Indianapolis on Monday, focusing on the plantar fasciitis that has sidelined him since May 30. Yet, before he could embark on this crucial trip, the seasoned outfielder aggravated his left foot further in an unexpected late-night scooter mishap in San Francisco.
Although the Giants confirmed Bader attended his medical appointment, the circumstances of his recent incident shifted the focus of the evaluation. Post-consultation, he made his way back to San Francisco to consult with team orthopedist, Dr. Ken Akizuki, and was slated for an MRI to assess the full impact of his injuries.
“As you can imagine, he’s in a worse place now than before,” admitted manager Tony Vitello. “This new injury will undoubtedly extend his recovery timeline. But truthfully, we were already facing a pretty daunting and frustrating recovery road ahead.”
This scooter accident is just the latest in a string of peculiar setbacks for a season that seems determined to unravel at every opportunity.
Bader signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract in January but has been limited to 30 games by hamstring and foot problems. He is batting .170 with a .198 on-base percentage and .358 slugging percentage, falling well short of the two-way impact San Francisco expected in center field.
This is also not Bader’s first scooter-related mishap. He was suspended from team activities at the University of Florida following a late-night scooter crash in 2014.
Bader’s setback was only part of a brutal injury update.
Casey Schmitt suffered a torn meniscus while rounding first base Monday and could miss the remainder of what had become his breakout season. Pitcher Trevor McDonald will undergo Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss all of 2027.
Those losses arrive as the Giants sit 16 games below .500 and prepare to sell at the trade deadline. Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle and Luis Arráez could all be moved, while the team faces the possibility of its first 90-loss season since 2017.
San Francisco has experienced disappointing performances, significant injuries and mounting trade uncertainty. Bader further damaging an already injured foot in a scooter crash feels like the perfect cherry on top.