SF Giants: Chadwick Tromp placed on IL with shoulder strain

The SF Giants have placed catcher Chadwick Tromp on the IL with a shoulder strain.

The SF Giants have made a habit out of finding contributors in the unlikeliest of ways ever since Farhan Zaidi took over as the team’s president of baseball operations. And a guy like Chadwick Tromp certainly fits the bill.

Signed to a minor-league contract shortly after the turn of the new year, Tromp turned some heads in both iterations of spring training because of his superb defensive ability and unexpected power.

And while he didn’t make the initial Opening Day roster, he was soon promoted to the majors on July 28th and that’s where he’d the rest of the 2020 season. That is, until Tuesday evening.

The Giants announced that they had placed Tromp on the Injured List with a muscle strain in his right shoulder. The injury was suffered when he had to dive back into first base in a game against the Oakland Athletics this past Sunday.

And with that, Tromp’s regular season is effectively over. That said, manager Gabe Kapler did indicate that he could return at some point this season if the Giants are to make the playoffs.

The SF Giants were pleasantly surprised by Chadwick Tromp in 2020.

Tromp was one of the Giant’s most unexpected surprises this season making a name for himself following an impressive showing in the summer after the minor-league veteran had spent the last seven seasons in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

The 25-year-old played in 24 games this season slashing just .213/.219/.426 while striking out a whopping 20 times in 61 at-bats. Compared to his lone walk in 64 plate appearances an that’s not exactly an ideal ratio.

But Tromp showed some power at the plate knocking in four home runs and 10 RBI. However, it was his glove that became his best asset — particularly in regard to Johnny Cueto.

Tromp became Cueto’s go-to catcher and seeing as though Cueto is the hardest Giants’ pitcher to catch, that’s quite the endorsement. Tromp’s framing was perhaps his most encouraging trait as he ranked as one of the best pitch-framers in the league.

The Giants recalled Tyler Heineman to fill Tromp’s roster spot and the team also has Chris Herrmann who will be a part of the expanded taxi squad for now. Of course, all of these guys will be behind Joey Bart.

Tromp was a fun surprise this season and here’s to hoping that we see more of him in the postseason and that he could stick around for the foreseeable future.