SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants left fielder Hunter Pence tested his sprained right thumb by taking batting practice Tuesday at AT&T Park, prompting hopes that he'll make a smooth return to the active roster.
With Mac Williamson's impressive emergence, however, finding a role for Pence once he's healthy might not be such a seamless process.
When the subject of Pence's recovery was discussed during manager Bruce Bochy's pregame media briefing, a reporter remarked to the Giants manager that Williamson's considerable success as the fill-in left fielder was the proverbial "elephant in the room.