Slater started in left field and went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 loss to the Nationals.
Slater made his third start since joining the Reds -- all against opposing lefties -- and delivered his first two runs in a Cincinnati uniform. He's 2-for-13 since being acquired from San Francisco. Once TJ Friedl (hamstring) returns from the injured list, the outfield picture will become crowded. The lefty-hitting Friedl typically starts against pitchers of either handedness, so Slater will compete with Stuart Fairchild and Rece Hinds for at-bats.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Slater: Debuts for new team
Rotowire
Slater started in center field and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Colorado.
Slater made his first appearance as a member of the team after Cincinnati acquired him from the Giants on Sunday. He could be a regular in the lineup heading into the All-Star break and shortly thereafter. Reds manager David Bell said TJ Friedl (hamstring) could rejoin the team 7-to-10 days after the break.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Slater: Joining new team Tuesday
Rotowire
Slater won't be available to make his Reds debut until Tuesday's game against the Rockies, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
The Reds swung a deal late Sunday to acquire Slater from the Giants, and he apparently wasn't able to catch a flight from San Francisco to Cincinnati in advance of the Reds' series opener Monday versus the Rockies. While the Reds wait for Slater to report to the club, the team called up Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville on Monday to provide an extra body in the outfield after Stuart Fairchild (spine) joined fellow outfielders TJ Friedl (hamstring) and Nick Martini (thumb) on the injured list. Jake Fraley (personal) is also on the family medical emergency list, so Slater could have an opportunity to see meaningful work right away once he joins the Reds, even though he had largely been deployed as a short-side platoon outfielder throughout his eight-season run with the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Slater: Shipped to Cincinnati
Rotowire
The Reds acquired Slater and cash considerations from the Giants on Sunday in exchange for left-handed pitcher Alex Young, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Slater will head to Cincinnati after producing a disappointing .200/.330/.244 slash line with one home run, nine RBI, 12 runs scored and two stolen bases over 112 plate appearances in 43 games with the Giants this season. With Will Benson struggling to a .187/.275/.365 slash line while striking out 40.1 percent of his plate appearances on the season, Slater could be called on to replace him in Cincinnati's everyday outfield moving forward, or at least platoon with him. In addition to Benson's ongoing struggles, the Reds are woefully shorthanded in the outfield at the moment with Nick Martini (thumb) joining TJ Friedl (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list Sunday and with Stuart Fairchild missing Sunday's loss to the Tigers with a back injury. Jake Fraley (personal) also remains on the family medical emergency list.
Slater isn't in the Giants' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater has gone just 1-for-11 with six strikeouts in his last five contests, and he'll now sit out for the second game in a row. Luis Matos will instead start in right field and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Sitting Tuesday
Rotowire
Slater isn't in the Giants' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and an RBI during Monday's game, Slater will get a day to regroup Tuesday while Luis Matos starts in right field, batting ninth.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Gets aboard four times
Rotowire
Slater went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and two total runs scored in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Angels.
Mike Yastrzemski started in right field, but he exited the game after drawing a walk in his lone plate appearance. Slater finished it off in right field, and despite facing right-handed pitchers in all but one of his four plate appearances, the outfielder put together an excellent game. He's hitting .409 (9-for-22) with three walks and five RBI over seven games in June in a short-side platoon role. Slater is up to a .230/.373/.279 slash line with a homer, two steals, six RBI and 10 runs scored through 75 plate appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Three hits, steal in win
Rotowire
Slater went 3-for-5 with two RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Astros.
Slater has gone 6-for-13 over four games since he returned from a concussion, though all of his hits in that span have been singles. The outfielder is up to a .212/.349/.212 slash line with four RBI, two steals and seven runs scored over 63 plate appearances this season. Slater is strictly a short-side platoon player, which currently has him functioning as a fourth outfielder for the Giants offering coverage at all three outfield positions.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Starting in return from IL
Rotowire
The Giants reinstated Slater (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Wednesday. He'll start in center field and bat leadoff in the Giants' series finale versus the Diamondbacks.
Outfielder Luis Matos was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room on the active roster for Slater, who will slot back into the lineup Wednesday while Arizona brings lefty Jordan Montgomery to the hill. Slater should continue to see the overwhelming majority of his starts against southpaws, serving as a short-side platoon mate for either Mike Yastrzemski or Michael Conforto. Slater had been on the IL since May 11 while recovering from a concussion but was able to knock off some rust during a five-game rehab assignment with Sacramento.
Slater (concussion) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento if he's given clearance Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Slater has missed more than two weeks of action with concussion symptoms, but it sounds like he's doing better and is on the precipice of games. Because he hasn't missed much time, Slater's rehab assignment should be brief, provided there are no complications.
Slater (concussion) was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday.
Slater exited Friday's game with concussion-like symptoms after crashing into the center field wall. Brett Wisely was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move and Tyler Fitzgerald is picking up the start in center field against lefty Nick Lodolo.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Exits with concussion-like symptoms
Rotowire
The Giants took Slater out of Friday's game versus Cincinnati due to concussion-like symptoms, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
It initially seemed like Slater's arm took the majority of the damage after he crashed into the wall in center field during the first inning, but it appears the incident may have instead given the 31-year-old a concussion. No official diagnosis has been given yet, but Slater may be in line for a trip to the 7-day IL.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Slater was removed from Friday's game against the Reds with an apparent arm injury, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Slater crashed hard into the outfield wall during the first inning and was later pinch hit for by Michael Conforto. The Giants' training staff will take a closer look at Slater in the clubhouse and should offer an update on his status in the near future.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Notches first steal
Rotowire
Slater went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Mets.
Slater has struggled at the plate this year, but he remains in a short-side platoon role in right field. The steal was his first of the campaign, and he's batting just .115 with one RBI, three runs scored and no extra-base hits over 32 plate appearances. Slater will often play in right field when Mike Yastrzemski is on the bench, but the former's hitting hasn't been strong enough to make much of a fantasy impact.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Picks up RBI in win
Rotowire
Slater went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.
The 31-year-old hit in the leadoff spot Wednesday afternoon and picked up his first RBI of the year. Manager Bob Melvin appeared to mix up the lineup Wednesday, slotting Slater and Tyler Fitzgerald into the outfield for rare starts. Mike Yastrzemski has been earning the majority of the playing time in right field all season, but with three hits through his first 23 at-bats to start the year, it would not be surprising for Slater to get more looks in right field.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Starts in right field in exhibition
Rotowire
Slater (elbow) will start in right field and bat second Monday in the Giants' exhibition versus the Athletics.
After he was limited in the early stages of spring training while completing his recovery from the right elbow surgery he underwent Oct. 11, Slater made his spring debut Feb. 24, but he didn't return to the lineup until March 9 after experiencing a minor setback in his recovery. Manager Bob Melvin noted Friday that Slater recently experienced more soreness in his surgically repaired elbow, but the 31-year-old outfielder has since seemingly quelled some of the concern about his availability for Opening Day. He returned to action for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks and went 0-for-3 while serving as a backup designated hitter, then made a start at DH in a minor-league game Sunday. Slater's inclusion in the lineup in the outfield Monday implies that the elbow issue is no longer hindering him on defense or at the plate, so if he can come out of the game without any setbacks, he should be in good position to make the Opening Day roster. The right-handed-hitting Slater is likely to fill the short side of a platoon in the corner outfield with either Michael Conforto or Mike Yastrzemski during the upcoming season.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Suffers setback with elbow
Rotowire
Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Slater had "a little setback" with his right elbow and might not make the Opening Day roster, Brian Murphy of KNBR 680 reports.
Slater had offseason surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow. While he didn't have any restrictions during spring training, he evidently felt something in the elbow recently that has the Giants hitting the pause button. With Slater looking iffy for the Opening Day roster, it could clear a spot for Luis Matos.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Austin Slater: Cleared for Cactus League play
Rotowire
Slater (elbow) said Thursday that he has the "all clear" to play in spring training games, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slater has been throwing from 150 feet, and he participated in cutoff and relay drills Thursday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right elbow in October. It's unclear whether the Giants will use Slater in the field right away as Cactus League games begin or if they will ease him in as a DH, but he should be ready to handle fielding duties by Opening Day.
