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Giants Designate Jerar Encarnación for Assignment
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- Giants Designate Jerar Encarnación for Assignment
(© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
The San Francisco Giants continued to reshape their roster this week, designating outfielder Jerar Encarnación for assignment as part of a broader wave of moves aimed at sparking production.
Encarnación's removal from the 40-man roster comes alongside the optioning of outfielder Will Brennan to Triple-A Sacramento. These transactions follow the previously reported promotions of top prospects Bryce Eldridge and Jesús Rodríguez, signaling a clear shift toward younger talent.
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In additional moves, the club recalled right-hander Trevor McDonald while placing left-hander Erik Miller on the 15-day Injured List due to a lower back strain, retroactive to May 1.
Encarnación, 27, joined the organization on a minor-league deal in 2024 after an eye-catching stint in Mexico, where he posted video-game-like offensive numbers. He carried that momentum into Triple-A, earning a late-season call-up and a spot on the major league roster.
However, sustained success at the highest level never materialized.
Over parts of two seasons with San Francisco , Encarnación struggled to find consistency at the plate. In limited major league action, he produced a subpar slash line, with issues in plate discipline and contact limiting his impact.
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His performance in 2026 proved particularly difficult as he failed to generate offensive momentum early in the season.
Injuries also played a role in derailing his tenure. Throughout 2025, Encarnación dealt with multiple setbacks, including hand, oblique, and hamstring issues that interrupted his ability to establish rhythm.
The Giants' offense as a whole has been inconsistent, and Encarnación ultimately became one of the roster casualties as the team looks for answers. Because he is out of minor-league options, the club had limited flexibility, leading to his designation for assignment.
San Francisco now has up to a week to determine Encarnación's next step, whether through a trade or the waiver process. Given his recent struggles, he could pass through waivers unclaimed.
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If that happens, then he would have the option to elect free agency rather than accept an outright assignment, setting the stage for a potential fresh start elsewhere.
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