Giants hope hamstring injury doesn't spell the end for Michael Morse

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Michael Morse suffered a spring-training injury that's fairly typical for this time of March.

But this hamstring strain may result in Morse's career coming to an end.

Morse's comeback attempt with the San Francisco Giants hit a major snag when he suffered a hamstring injury in an exhibition game on Monday. It will likely sideline Morse for several weeks, meaning the non-roster invitee would likely have to rehab in the minors if he decided to continue, a decision he will have to make.

“It’s really too bad for him,” said manager Bruce Bochy after Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres. “He was playing some really good ball, swinging the bat well, doing the things he needed to do to make this club.

“It’s a shame.”

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Madison Bumgarner, Morse’s teammate when the Giants won the 2014 World Series, hopes the injury isn’t too serious and that Morse continues to rehab.

“He’s definitely a guy we enjoy having around,” Bumgarner said. “He’s a big contributor with what he brings to the table.”

Morse, who turned 35 on Wednesday, was the leading candidate to fill the final roster spot as right-handed hitter off the bench and could start occasionally at first base and left field.

For Morse, this was likely his final effort to continue his baseball career, and the Giants were a perfect fit for him.  In the offseason, he negotiated a minor league contract with general manager Bobby Evans during a spontaneous conversation at Hunter Pence’s wedding.

For Bochy and his teammates, they hope he continues his pursuit. Morse has slugged 104 career homers and has a .791 career OPS, but his abundant charisma made him well-liked by fans and teammates alike in stops with six teams.

Morse got two huge hits in the Giants' 2014 World Series run - a game-tying, pinch-hit eighth-inning home run in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, paving the way for Travis Ishikawa's pennant-winning walkoff homer. And he drove in the eventual winning run in Game 7 of the World Series - an opposite-field single off Kansas City reliever Kelvin Herrera.

The Giants were hopeful a reunion would work out.

“He was playing first base, playing a good outfield and came into camp in tremendous shape,” said Bochy.

“He has some good baseball in him. My hope is he’ll sit down and think about it and get back to rehab.”

Morse, who has not played since he was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates in April 2016, was batting .257 with two home runs and six RBI in 14 Cactus League games.

Justin Ruggiano, Chris Marrero and Aaron Hill are non-roster right-handed hitters also bidding for the final roster spot.

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