Giants’ Joe Panik out 6-8 weeks with thumb injury

The Giants will not have second baseman Joe Panik in their lineup for a significant amount of time, as he will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after suffering a thumb injury, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

Panik was put on the 10-day disabled list before San Francisco’s doubleheader against the Dodgers on Saturday with what was diagnosed as a left thumb sprain, which he suffered during a pickoff attempt in Friday night’s game. Baggarly reported that Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Panik will get a second opinion on his thumb and that surgery “is very much an option.”

If he does have surgery, Panik will be the third player this year to have suffered the same type of injury. Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier tore a ligament in his right thumb on April 15 and Brewers slugger Eric Thames suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb five days ago. Kiermaier is expected to miss 12-13 weeks, while Thames is expected to be out six to eight weeks.

Losing Panik is not what the struggling Giants (13-14) need right now.

Panik leads the team in hits with 24 and is second in runs (11) and plate appearances (100) while slashing .267/.323/.389 in 23 games. The 27-year-old has done well in his first four-plus seasons with the Giants, hitting .281/.343/.407 in 461 games while earning an All-Star selection in 2015 and a Gold Glove award in 2016.