The Giants have lost another starting outfielder to injury.
Left fielder Nori Aoki was diagnosed Tuesday with a fracture in his right fibula, two days after being hit by a pitch from the Dodgers' Carlos Frias. Aoki will be placed on the 15-day disabled list but is expected to be out longer.
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Aoki was a late scratch Tuesday after testing the leg during batting practice.
“I was definitely surprised,” Aoki said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “I came here ready to play. It was really weird that it got really worse at that point.”
The Giants were already without right fielder Hunter Pence (wrist), who is on the DL. Pence's return date is uncertain.
The Chronicle's Henry Schulman reported that Travis Ishikawa will likely be called up from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Aoki. Schulman speculated that the Giants could play Ishikawa at first base, and shift first baseman Brandon Belt to left field, against right-handers.
Ishikawa, a left-handed hitter, will provide a much-needed power threat. The Giants are tied for 12th in the National League with 56 home runs. He became an unlikely postseason hero last year when he hit a walkoff homer against the Cardinals to clinch the NLCS. He started five games in the World Series.
