SF Giants’ Yastrzemski removed from exhibition game due to tight quad

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When it rains it pours, and the Giants are finding out that overnight showers in the dry, desert climate in Scottsdale were full of bad news.

Just hours after manager Gabe Kapler ruled third baseman Evan Longoria (finger surgery) and outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. (left knee inflammation) out for Opening Day, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski exited Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Padres with a tight right quad.

Kapler said postgame the decision to pull Yastrzemski after two innings of play was “precautionary” and added the Giants did not have plans for the outfielder to undergo a MRI.

“I think we could’ve had him continue, but we opted to get him out of there,” Kapler said.

The team has reason to be cautious with its top players at this juncture of the spring, particularly because Longoria and Wade are not the only projected starters whose Opening Day status is in doubt.

The Giants remain optimistic that first baseman Brandon Belt, who is dealing with a knee injury, will be ready to play when the team reports to Oracle Park on April 8 to begin its season against the Marlins, but Belt has yet to participate in a Cactus League game. Second baseman Tommy La Stella appeared in his first spring exhibition Tuesday and doubled against Padres right-hander Mike Clevinger, but La Stella, who underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon in the offseason, expressed uncertainty as to whether he would be able to play the field by Opening Day.

Kapler has raved about Yastrzemski this spring and touted the left-handed hitting slugger as a stabilizing force for a team that lost Buster Posey to retirement and Kris Bryant to free agency.

“One (thing) that stands out to me is Yastrzemski’s been really good in the batter’s box,” Kapler said. “It’s really being on time consistently. It’s a lot of twitch and a lot of athleticism, similar to what we saw in 2020. Not making any bold predictions about him being back to his 2020 self, just saying that he looks really good and comfortable in the batter’s box.”

Yastrzemski was in the midst of a strong showing against the Padres when he was replaced on defense by prospect Luis Matos in the top of the third inning. The defensive substitution came earlier than planned and followed a rigorous sequence for Yastrzemski, who had singled, walked and twice scored from first base before exiting Tuesday’s game.

Giants beat reporter Evan Webeck contributed to this story.