San Francisco Giants: Will Smith has potentially bad injury

Aug 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (left) takes the ball from relief pitcher Will Smith (facing camera) as catcher Buster Posey (second from left) and first baseman Brandon Belt (9) look on against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco Giants pitcher Will Smith, expected to be a key member of the bullpen in 2017, may miss extended time with an elbow injury.

Expected to play a major role in the revamped San Francisco Giants bullpen this season, left-handed reliever Will Smith may not pitch for the club at all in 2017.

According to Andrew Baggarly of the Bay Area News Group and Mercurynews.com, Smith will have a second MRI as a result of pain in his elbow. The best-case scenario appears to be Smith missing Opening Day and beginning the season on the disabled list. The worst-case scenario? Tommy John surgery.

#sfgiants not sure whether Will Smith will require Tommy John surgery, but thwy know this is not a minor issue. He'll be out a long time.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 21, 2017

The injury, which dates back to early throwing sessions in February, flared up during the eighth inning of the Giants Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox Monday.

Smith was acquired by San Francisco from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline last season. The 27-year-old was 2-4 with a 3.35 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 40.1 innings spread across 53 appearances with the two clubs. He posted a 1-1 record and 2.95 ERA in 26 outings with the Giants. Smith has made two appearances this spring, and did not allow a run in 1.2 innings.

Losing Smith for an extended period would be big following an active offseason for San Francisco as the Giants parted ways with longtime relievers Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla and Javier Lopez over the winter. Lopez, manager Bruce Bochy’s favorite left-handed specialist over the last seven seasons, retired after 14 years in the big leagues.

Without Smith, Steven Okert would be the only lefty in the bullpen guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster. Okert, who has yet to allow a run in six appearances this spring, posted a 3.21 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14 innings in 16 games with the club as a rookie last year. Josh Osich posted a 4.71 ERA in 59 appearances with the Giants last year, but has struggled this spring.

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Ty Blach, who is in the mix to be the No. 5 starter for the Giants, is another candidate. The young lefty made four appearances for the Giants in 2016, including two starts, and posted a 1-0 record with a 1.06 ERA in 17.0 innings in his first major league action.

Non-roster left-handers in camp include Matt Reynolds, Michael Roth and Kraig Sitton.

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