Pins removed from Bumgarner's hand, Giants optimistic for late May return

San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner had the pins removed from his hand, and Bruce Bochy is optimistic the left-hander could be activated from the 60-day disabled list when the minimum stay expires on May 25, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bumgarner suffered a fractured pitching hand in late March after getting hit by a comebacker during a spring game. After undergoing surgery, Bochy was hopeful for an early June return, however, the skipper remained optimistic that Bumgarner's work ethic could allow him to return before then.

The 28-year-old Bumgarner will have two weeks of recovery before he is able to resume throwing again in early May.

Last season was the first time Bumgarner missed the 200-inning plateau since the 2010 campaign when he was a 20-year-old. Sidelined midseason with a freak injury suffered in a dirt biking accident, Bumgarner posted a 3.32 ERA over 111 innings. 2017 also marked the first time Bumgarner hadn't finished in the top 10 of National League Cy Young voting in the previous five seasons.

Without Bumgarner, the Giants have struggled to a 7-10 record so far in 2018, currently sitting fourth in the NL West, and one game back of the state rival Los Angeles Dodgers.