SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. _ The Giants will be missing one of their most important relievers when the spring exhibition season opens on Friday.
Left-hander Will Smith underwent an MRI on his sore left elbow and will be held out of action for a week, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. The test did not show any structural damage beyond inflammation, and if it calms down as expected, Bochy said that Smith could debut around March 20 and still get the six exhibition appearances he'd need to be ready for opening day.
Smith hasn't faced hitters in live batting practice the previous two days.
But he wasn't overly concerned about the injury, saying the worst part was the claustrophobia of being stuck in the MRI chamber.
"The ligament is fine, everything is fine," Smith said. "They don't seem too concerned and I'm not too concerned. We have, what, 14 weeks in spring training this year?"
It sure feels that way, with teams reporting a few days early because of the World Baseball Classic.
Smith clearly has the ability to laugh at personal misfortune. He took plenty of grief last spring in Milwaukee Brewers camp, when he tore a knee ligament while trying to take off a shoe and had to undergo surgery.
He said he texted Brewers trainers a photo of him sitting down to take off his shoes this spring.
Smith, 27, was 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 26 games for the Giants after arriving in an Aug. 1 trade from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Giants paid a steep price to get Smith, sacrificing former first-round pick Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac. They valued Smith as a durable presence who could take over for Jeremy Affeldt as a left-hander who had the stuff to pitch multiple innings and retire right-handed batters.
The Giants also have left-handers Josh Osich and Steven Okert in camp, and also brought back left-hander Matt Reynolds on a minor league contract. It's possible that lefty Ty Blach could pitch in relief if he does not unseat Matt Cain, who is forecast as the No. 5 starter.
A bout of elbow inflammation bears watching but does not spell immediate doom. Former Giants right-hander Sergio Romo dealt with it pretty much every spring as he began to crank up his throwing off a mound.
