Giants Place Heliot Ramos on IL with Quad Strain, Activate Erik Miller

The San Francisco Giants placed outfielder Heliot Ramos on the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain, according to reports from Susan Slusser and Justice de los Santos. Ramos was injured during a play in the fifth inning of the Giants’ 5-2 loss to the Houston Astros. The move comes at a critical time for a Giants team struggling offensively, as Ramos has posted a 105 wRC+ in 176 plate appearances this season.

Ramos left the game after a diving attempt on a line drive from Jeff McNeil, which forced him to leave in the sixth inning. An MRI confirmed the quad strain, and the injury is expected to sideline him for at least a couple of weeks. Should the strain prove more severe, he could miss several months. This is only the second IL stint of his career, the first coming in 2023 due to a right oblique injury.

The Giants activated left-handed reliever Erik Miller from his rehab assignment, while optioning right-hander Tristan Beck back to Triple-A. Will Brennan was recalled to fill out the roster. Miller, who has a 3.15 ERA in 108 2/3 innings since 2024, returns to a Giants bullpen that ranks near the bottom of the league in overall effectiveness.

With Ramos sidelined, the Giants face a challenge in left field. The team is likely to turn to Casey Schmitt, who is currently hitting at a 129 wRC+ pace. Schmitt’s defensive metrics from Statcast show above-average arm strength and sprint speed, making him a viable option. Manager Tony Vitello confirmed Schmitt will see time in the outfield, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports.

Other options include Drew Gilbert, who has a 70 wRC+ in his short MLB career, and Jesus Rodriguez, who has only 41 career outfield innings at Triple-A. The Giants could also use Brennan, though he has only 22 MLB plate appearances since 2025. None of these options match Ramos’ production.

Ramos has been a key contributor for the Giants, hitting .267/.307/.424 this season. His 105 wRC+ indicates he is five percent better than average at the plate. While his defense has been a liability (-9 OAA in left field last year), his bat gives the Giants a much-needed lift.

The Giants face a crucial stretch of games as they look to climb out of the NL West cellar. The team will need Schmitt and others to step up in the absence of Ramos, who is expected to return in a few weeks. The decision to activate Miller could provide a boost to the bullpen, which has struggled with consistency.

The Giants will host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday in a key series for their playoff chances.