Giants shortstop Willy Adames gets key injury update after UCL sprain

The latest update on Willy Adames leaves the San Francisco Giants with only a narrow path for their shortstop to play again this season. Any return depends on how his left elbow responds over the next month.

Team doctors diagnosed Adames with a moderate sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his non-throwing arm. Dr. Keith Meister confirmed that diagnosis and did not recommend surgery. Adames received a platelet-rich plasma injection Thursday. The projected recovery is three to four weeks.

Adames remains on the 10-day injured list. The Giants’ regular season ends on September 27, which leaves only a small window in the final week. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser published Adames’ latest comments Friday after speaking with him.

“I’m hoping that I can play in the last week—I don’t know how many days we’re going to have,” Adames said. “But if I’m not 100%, I don’t think I’m going to push it. It would be different if we were in a different position, but even though I want to be out there every day, I have to feel 100%.”

Adames injured the elbow last Sunday at Fenway Park while sliding home against the Boston Red Sox. Connor Wong’s knee hit his left arm. Adames said he felt the pain during the slide. The Giants placed him on the injured list Monday.

Meister’s second opinion confirmed the UCL sprain. Thursday’s injection started a short shutdown before rehabilitation could advance. Manager Tony Vitello said a return in the final week would be the best possible outcome. Neither Vitello nor the medical staff has cleared Adames for baseball activity or set a return date.

San Francisco enters Saturday afternoon at 55-80, which reduces the incentive for Adames to risk a setback for a brief late-season appearance. Whether he plays again in 2026 will depend on the elbow and whether he feels fully healthy before the schedule ends.

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