23-year old righty swinging outfielder Gary Brown came into this season as the Giants’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. Brown has played in 27 games in AA-ball this year and he is 25 for 103 (.243 avg, .636 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers, 12 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has now played in 170 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 220 for 706 (.312 avg, .857 OPS) with 133 runs scored, 14 homers, 94 RBIs and 62 stolen bases. The Giants are going to take it slow with Brown, so that he ready for the challenge before he gets a shot at the show.

31-year old righty reliever Santiago Casilla has replaced the injured Brian Wilson as the Giants’ closer and he is looking outstanding in his new role. Casilla has pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Giants so far this year and he is 0-1 with 4 saves, a 1.86 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He has only given up 6 hits in 9 2/3 innings so far this year while 9 whiffs, as he has been rock solid. Casilla has now pitched in 112 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Giants and he is 9-5 with 12 saves, a 1.85 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Giants need Casilla to keep up the good work and I think he will be up to the challenge.

The Giants will be without switch-hitting starting 3B Pablo Sandoval for the next 4-6 weeks. He will have surgery tomorrow to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Sandoval played in 24 games for the Giants this year and he was 30 for 95 (.316 avg, .912 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 5 homers and 15 RBIs. The Giants have called up 24-year old lefty swinging 3B Conor Gillaspie to replace Sandoval on the roster and maybe in the starting lineup. Gillaspie came into this season as the Giants’ #13 prospect according to Baseball America. He has played in 23 games in AAA-ball this year for the Giants and he is 34 of 94 (.362 avg, .939 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 3 homers and 13 RBIs. Gillaspie has played in 23 games in parts of two years with the Giants and he is 6 for 24 (.250 avg, .732 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. Gillaspie is going to get his big shot to show what he can do with Sandoval out of action and the Giants hope he steps up.

The Giants have designated 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Tyler Graham for assignment. They needed the roster spot for lefty pitcher Travis Blackley. Graham played in 5 games in AAA-ball for the Giants this year and he was 5 for 19 (.263 avg, .616 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 1 stolen base. He has played in 544 games in 7 years in the minors for the Giants and he is 507 of 1,805 (.281 avg, .702 OPS) with 329 runs scored, 17 homers, 178 RBIs and 222 stolen bases. The Giants hope that he clears waivers so that they can keep him.

The Giants have placed 32-year old lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt on the 15-day disabled list due to a right knee sprain. Affeldt has pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Giants so far this year and he is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. The Giants have called up 29-year old lefty Travis Blackley to replace Affeldt in the bullpen. Blackley pitched in 4 games (3 starts) in AAA-ball for the Giants this year and he was 3-0 with 1 save, a 0.39 ERA and a 0.69 WHIP. Blackley has only given up 13 hits and 2 walks in 23 1/3 innings in the minors this year with 19 whiffs. Blackley last pitched in the majors back in 2007 with the Giants. He has pitched in 8 games (all starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. The Giants hope that Blackley takes advantage of this opportunity.