Spring training injuries can send shockwaves through a clubhouse.
For the San Francisco Giants, the concern came from two different directions this week—one involving their powerful new slugger and another tied to international competition in the World Baseball Classic.
Fortunately, the latest updates are bringing a wave of relief.
Jung Hoo Lee’s Scare Ends Quickly
The first scare came from overseas.
While representing Team South Korea in Japan, Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee twisted his ankle during play. Given how unpredictable injuries can be—especially during international tournaments—the news immediately caught the attention of the Giants organization.
The team had already lost one player during WBC action when reliever Reiver Sanmartin went down earlier with hip-flexor discomfort.
So when Lee’s injury surfaced, the worry was understandable.
But the latest update from Giants manager Tony Vitello has calmed those fears.
According to the team, Lee’s injury is mild, and the outfielder is not expected to miss any games in the World Baseball Classic.
“Nothing that I believe will take him out of a game,” Vitello said.
For the Giants, that’s a massive relief.
Lee is expected to play a major role in the team’s lineup this season, and losing him before Opening Day would have been a significant setback.
Rafael Devers’ Return Is Getting Closer
Meanwhile, there’s also good news surrounding another key name: Rafael Devers.
The Giants slugger has been dealing with hamstring tightness, but the team says he continues to feel better each day and is nearing a return to game action.
While there was speculation Devers might return during Sunday’s spring training matchup against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, the more likely scenario now appears to be Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels at the Giants’ home facility.
The organization is deliberately taking a cautious approach.
“We’d rather be two days too slow than two days too early,” Vitello explained.
That philosophy reflects the team’s focus on protecting one of its most important offensive players ahead of the long MLB season.
If necessary, Devers could even take some live batting practice with the minor-league squad before returning to official games—an approach teams often use to ease players back into action.
Another Injury Still Being Evaluated
One situation remains less certain.
Reliever Reiver Sanmartin, who experienced hip-flexor discomfort while participating in the World Baseball Classic, underwent an MRI scan to determine the severity of his injury.
However, at the time of the update, the Giants had not yet received the full results, leaving his timeline for returning to action unclear.
A Crucial Time for the Giants
As spring training continues, every injury update matters.
Teams spend these weeks carefully preparing for the grind of a 162-game season, and losing key players before Opening Day can derail early momentum.
For the Giants, the latest news provides something rare during injury scares—a sense of relief.
Jung Hoo Lee appears ready to keep competing on the international stage.
Rafael Devers is getting closer to returning to the lineup.
And if both players stay healthy, San Francisco could head into the season with its roster intact and ready for the challenges ahead.