CHICAGO -- The Giants welcomed a positive development amid their daily delivery of injury-related news on Saturday, when the ballclub and second baseman Joe Panik announced that he will start a Minor League injury rehabilitation assignment on Monday with Triple-A Sacramento.
Panik, 27, sprained his left thumb in a low-impact collision with the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig on April 27. At that time, the Giants said that Panik could miss 6-8 weeks. Assuming that Panik avoids further setbacks, the 2015 National League All-Star could rejoin the club by the end of next week, shaving approximately two weeks from his recovery timetable.