SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged he is less certain that second baseman Freddy Sanchez will be ready to start on opening day.
"I guess you have to say it's a possibility," Bochy said Sunday. "We're down to two weeks and he hasn't gotten out there yet. We're still optimistic we'll get him out there, but each day that goes by, the possibility grows a little bit that he's not going to be ready."
Sanchez hasn't played an inning in the field since June 8, when he dislocated his right shoulder while diving for a ground ball. After surgery in August and an offseason of building arm strength by playing catch, Sanchez began participating in full infield practice within the last week.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"Once he takes good infield and feels he can play in a game, we'll throw him out there," said Bochy, who told Sanchez that he looked tentative in initial attempts to throw to bases or turn the pivot on double plays.
Bochy said it was doubtful Sanchez would start at second base on Tuesday, after the club returns from its only day off on the schedule. Sanchez could take infield on Tuesday or Wednesday, receive a day off to recover, then start the following day if all goes well.
The Giants have Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot and Emmanuel Burriss as insurance at second base for Sanchez. Theriot would appear to be a better fit, given his right-handedness amid a very left-leaning lineup. But Theriot has not impressed with the bat (.200) or glove thus far.
Burriss, a switch hitter, tripled and singled while boosting his average to .441 in 34 at-bats. He's out of minor league options, which boosts his chances of making the team.