Giants outfielder Hunter Pence will miss up to the first month of the season after suffering broken a left forearm Thursday. The Giants announced the injury after X-rays revealed the break.
Pence non-displaced fracture in left forearm (Ulna bone). Expected out 6-8 weeks. #SFGiants
— World Champs (@SFGiants) March 6, 2015 Pence was hit on the left arm by the Cubs' Corey Black in the sixth inning of Thursday's exhibition.
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"Hunter, he's always upbeat, optimistic," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters, per MLB.com . "He was trying to move out of the way and it kind of ran in and caught him there, but hey, it happens. If it is broken, I guess the silver lining is it's this early in spring so that at least we'll have a month to start the healing process."
Pence is a huge part of the Giants' lineup as their everyday right fielder. He played in all 162 regular-season games last year in helping San Francisco win the World Series for the third time in five seasons. He batted .277/.332/.445 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs.
Pence will miss games for first time since trade to Giants. Had played MLB-leading 383 consecutive games.
— Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) March 6, 2015 San Francisco's top replacement options include Nori Aoki, who was signed to play left field but could shift to right, where he has played most of his career; Gregor Blanco, who was slated to be the Giants' fourth outfielder; reserve Juan Perez; and Travis Ishikawa, who shifted from first base to the outfield last September.
UPDATE: Pence appreciates the get-well wishes:
All the love and support is making me feel better already. Thank You :)
— Hunter Pence (@hunterpence) March 6, 2015 Contributing: Tom Gatto