Frandsen blows out Achilles

Things went from bad to worse for the San Francisco Giants on Monday as utility infielder Kevin Frandsen, who was fighting for a starting job, injured his Achilles tendon in a minor league game. While the diagnosis is not certain, if the injury is a rupture, Frandsen will likely miss the entire season.

With Omar Vizquel already out for opening day and other potential starters Ray Durham and Rich Aurilia on the shelf frequently this spring, the news from Scottsdale of Kevin Frandsen injuring his Achilles tendon in a minor league contest added insult (and more injury) to injury for the San Francisco Giants Monday.

For Frandsen, 25, the injury just continues a nightmare spring. Already in March, Frandsen lost out on a shot to play shortstop after just four days when Vizquel went down because his sloppy defense also seemed to shake his confidence at the plate. Frandsen was in the minor league contest because he had not played the last eight days because of tendinitis. To top it off, Frandsen had hit just .235 with a .324 slugging percentage in 34 at-bats this spring, leading the club to grab Jose Castillo off Florida's scrap heap this weekend.

Frandsen will have an MRI later this week to determine the severity of his injury, sustained whill running the bases in Scottsdale. If there is a tear, he would be hard-pressed to return to the big leagues this season.

Frandsen owns a .327 average in parts of four minor league seasons, but has been limited to a .255 mark, with just a .319 on-base percentage, in 150 Major League games.

His injury, combined with the uncertain status of Durham and Aurelia, makes it likely that Eugenio Velez and Castillo will both be part of the opening day lineup for the Giants.