Buster Posey told his teammates a week ago that he might have to opt out of the 2020 season. The Giants catcher made it official Friday, and one of his longtime teammates praised the decision and said all Posey’s teammates want to do is provide support.
“We’ll let him know we respect and honor it,” outfielder Hunter Pence said. “We understand and we’re here for him. That’s what our job is as teammates. We totally respect and understand the situation that he’s in.”
[GIANTS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Pence and Posey were teammates from 2012 through 2018 and won two titles together. They were set to reunite this year, possibly in the heart of the order, trs year, but Posey announced that his family has adopted two twin girls who were born prematurely last Friday. To protect their health, Posey will not play this season.
“These are two lives that are high risk and that’s just a tough weight to put on your soul to be coming to play baseball and risking their lives,” Pence said. "It’s a tough weight on everybody’s souls. These are tough times and we have to make tough decisions.”
[RELATED: Posey's decision might make Giants revisit plans for Bart]
Pence’s right-handed bat now will be even more crucial for the Giants, but he has been hampered by right foot pain in recent days. The 37-year-old said he had an MRI on Friday morning but deemed it precautionary.
San Francisco Giants
Find the latest San Francisco Giants news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
“It’s very mild,” Pence said of the pain.