The San Francisco Giants are, once again, pressing pause on Harrison Bader's recovery, shutting down the veteran outfielder from all baseball activities because of continued soreness caused by left plantar fasciitis.

The latest setback comes after Bader experienced recurring discomfort while attempting to work his way back into the lineup, leading the organization to pursue additional medical evaluation.

Beginning Monday, Bader will travel to Indianapolis to meet with foot and ankle specialist Dr. David Porter in hopes of identifying the best path forward.

Manager Tony Vitello expressed optimism that Bader could still return before the end of the season, but emphasized the organization no longer wants to rush the rehabilitation process after repeated setbacks.

According to Vitello, every attempt to ramp up baseball activity has resulted in renewed discomfort, forcing Bader to restart his recovery multiple times. Rather than continuing that cycle, the Giants have decided that a more thorough medical evaluation is the best course of action.

The injury has significantly limited Bader during his first season in San Francisco after signing a two-year contract worth a reported $20.5 million last offseason.

He has appeared in just 30 games this year while struggling to establish any rhythm offensively. Bader is batting .170 with a .198 on-base percentage and a .358 slugging percentage, though he has still managed to hit five home runs and drive in 14 runs despite the limited playing time.

The Giants were counting on Bader to provide elite defense in center field while adding veteran experience to their lineup, but recurring injuries have prevented him from making a consistent impact.

The Giants may have ended their five-game losing streak with Friday's win over the Los Angeles Angels, but the organization's injury concerns have done little to ease questions about its overall depth.

While Bader's prognosis appears considerably more encouraging than Trevor McDonald's, the Giants will likely wait until after his consultation with the specialist before establishing a timetable for his return.

With roughly two months remaining in the regular season, San Francisco hopes the additional evaluation can finally provide a solution that allows Bader to return healthy and contribute during the stretch run rather than continuing the stop-and-start recovery process that has defined much of his 2026 campaign.

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