OAKLAND, Calif. — San Francisco Giants outfielder and first baseman Travis Ishikawa will begin the season on the disabled list with a back injury.
Manager Bruce Bochy says Ishikawa is in Arizona and beginning to hit off a tee in his rehabilitation. Without Ishikawa, whose game-ending home run sent the eventual champion Giants to the World Series last October, there’s an open spot for a 13th pitcher or extra infielder on the opening day roster.
Ishikawa was acquired back by the Giants on a minor league deal last season and played 47 games before becoming an unlikely post-season star with a three-run home run of a 6-3 clinching victory against St. Louis in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. He batted .191 with a homer, six RBIs and 14 strikeouts in 17 Cactus League games this spring.
