Torres pulled up lame with a calf strain in an April game against the Cardinals, missing almost a month of action. DeRosa's injury was an aggravation of a previous problem with his wrist, which required surgery before the 2010 season.
Manager Bruce Bochy hinted that Torres would reclaim his job as the starting center fielder, and while DeRosa wasn't a starter before he went on the DL, he could be now with Tejada struggling both at the plate and in the field, and Mike Fontenot staking a claim to the everyday shortstop job.
Though there has not been official confirmation, it is likely that the Giants will demote infielders Ryan Rohlinger and Emmanuel Burriss to make room for Torres and DeRosa.
For most of the season, the San Francisco Giants have been without lead-off hitter and center fielder Andres Torres, who was put on the disabled list in early April after straining his left Achilles tendon. It looks like his return is imminent. From Andrew Baggarly from the Mercury News:
Andres Torres (strained right Achilles tendon) played all nine innings and had five at-bats in an extended spring game today. He’ll play again tomorrow. The Giants aren’t sure where he’ll get at-bats next, since the weather is dicey for Fresno at Colorado Springs. But they still think he’s going to be activated when the club returns home Friday.
Aaron Rowand has played most of the center field since Torres was injured, and it will be interesting to see what the Giants do with Cody Ross, Pat Burrell, Rowand, and Torres all jockeying for playing time. In addition to those four players, prospect Brandon Belt has been playing some innings in the outfield for Triple-A Fresno while hitting over .400.
Torres hasn't played since the injury, so the DL move will be retroactive to April 10th. The Giants are optimistic that he'll be ready close to the time he'll be eligible to be reinstated from the DL on April 26th.
To take Torres' spot on the roster, San Francisco recalled speedster Darren Ford, who has a little major league experience, scoring a game-winning run in a game against the Colorado Rockies last year. As Ford was put into the game as a pinch-runner, though, he still does not have a major league at-bat. Moonlight Graham fetishists everywhere are keeping their fingers crossed that Ford doesn't actually get into a game.
