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Harrison Bader #9 of the San Francisco Giants.
The San Francisco Giants open the season tonight against the New York Yankees. After a disappointing 81-81 finish in 2025 that left them watching the playoffs from home, the Giants are hungry to make a statement from the jump.
They will have a key piece back for first pitch.
Harrison Bader has been cleared from a hamstring injury and started Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Sultanes de Monterrey, batting second behind Luis Arraez. It is an encouraging sign for his status heading into Opening Night.
What Vitello Said About Bader’s Return
Manager Tony Vitello had been monitoring Bader closely throughout the spring, leaning on both the medical staff and conversations with the outfielder himself before making the call.
“I’m going off reports from the medical staff, but I’m also going off conversations with him, and he feels really good where he’s at,” Vitello told Adrian Garro of MLB.com.
The signs around camp were encouraging. Bader continued to participate in pregame drills and remained active in batting practice throughout the spring even while sidelined from exhibition games. Vitello noticed.
“He’s literally out there hugging his teammates and doing everything he needs to do,” Vitello said. “So unless there’s some sort of setback from today, I’d assume next day would be even more, and the next day would be even more.”
The hamstring tightness that had kept him out never appeared to derail his preparation in any meaningful way. He came through Tuesday’s exhibition without any setbacks, which bodes well for Opening Night.
Harrison Bader (left hamstring tightness) back in Giants’ lineup playing center field and hitting second behind second baseman Luis Arraez.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) March 24, 2026
Who Bader Is and What He Brings
GettyHarrison Bader of the San Francisco Giants.
Bader signed with the Giants this offseason on a two-year, $20.5 million deal, bringing a resume built on defense and a motor that teams have consistently valued. Originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016, he made his major league debut in 2017 and developed into one of the better defensive center fielders in the game.
His best season in St. Louis came in 2021, when his work on both sides of the ball earned him a Gold Glove in center field. He was the first Cardinal to win the award at that position since Jim Edmonds claimed it six consecutive times between 2000 and 2005.
Since then, Bader has bounced around. Stints with the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets followed before he split the 2025 season between the Minnesota Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies, declining his 2026 option with Philadelphia to hit free agency. Injuries have been a recurring theme throughout his career, which makes his availability for Opening Night all the more important.
What It Means for the Giants
Bader will compete for the center field job alongside Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Matos as the season develops. Having him available from game one rather than easing him back into things gives Vitello options he would not have had otherwise.
The Giants went 81-81 last year and finished third in the NL West. The bar is higher this season. Getting Bader back healthy before the first pitch of a Yankees series is exactly the kind of early momentum they were looking for.
Final Word for the Giants
Bader cleared the hamstring scare and came through the exhibition without issue. For a Giants team with playoff ambitions and something to prove after last season, having him available from the first pitch of the season matters.
Opening Night against the Yankees. Bader is ready.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
