SF Giants suspend Harrison Bader’s paychecks after scooter crash
SAN DIEGO — Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said in a statement Friday that the team will be “suspending payment” to outfielder Harrison Bader following his late-night scooter accident this past weekend.
“Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison’s prior treatment timeline for plantar fasciitis and, unfortunately, his return to the field,” Posey said. “We are still investigating the circumstances of the accident, but will be suspending payment to Harrison until he is able to resume performing services for the Club.”
San Francisco police confirmed Thursday that officers were called to the city’s Marina District near Fillmore and Lombard streets just after 2 a.m. Sunday, where a collision involving a scooter had occurred. Police said one person was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the scene and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The police did not name Bader specifically.
Fire department officials have not responded to a request for comment from this news organization.
Bader’s collision happened a day before he flew to Indianapolis on Monday to meet with a foot and ankle specialist and address the left plantar fasciitis that has kept him off the field since May 29. The team announced last week that Bader stopped baseball activities due to continued soreness.
Due to the accident, however, Bader’s meeting with the specialist was “complicated,” according to the Giants. Bader then flew back to San Francisco and was examined by Dr. Ken Akizuki.
Bader has not spoken with reporters since the accident.
It remains to be seen whether the Giants will attempt to void the remainder of Bader’s contract. According to Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, players are not to engage in “skiing, auto racing, motorcycle racing, sky diving” without “the written consent of the Club.”
San Francisco has not officially announced that Bader will be out for the remainder of the season, but manager Tony Vitello said on Thursday that Bader’s return “would have been a long shot to begin with.” On Monday, however, Vitello said he thought Bader would play again this year (the team did not announce Bader’s crash until Tuesday).
The 32-year-old outfielder has played just 30 games with the Giants after signing a two-year, $20.5 million deal in the offseason, hitting just .170 with five home runs. He missed a month early in the season due to a hamstring strain, then landed on the injured list again in late May with plantar fasciitis.
