WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 03: Joe Panik #12 of the San Francisco Giants in position during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 03, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Joe Panik will be eligible to return to the San Francisco Giants off the disabled list on Aug. 17, but it doesn't appear as though he'll be game-ready by then.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Panik is still wearing a wrap on his injured back and manager Bruce Bochy says the All-Star second baseman's DL stint will likely last longer than his eligible date of return on the 17th.
"He's rehabbing, I guess that's the best I can give you," Bochy said. "He's working out, riding a bike, doing some things. But we're going to back him off this week and then he'll start taking some swings."
Panik, who hasn't played for the Giants since Aug. 1 due to inflammation in his lower back, has hit .309/.374/.443 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 97 games this season.
Although the Giants are in the middle of a pennant chase, currently 2 ½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West, they're not eager to rush Panik back onto the field.
"We think Panik's making good progress so we're not worried that it's going to be a great degree longer [than the date he's eligible to come off the DL]," said general manager Bobby Evans, "but we're taking a conservative approach even though it's an important time of the year."
(h/t San Jose Mercury News)
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