DENVER -- Buster Posey has dealt with some major injuries in his career, but up until recently, he has avoided the issue that has set back other marquee catchers.
Posey never had real concussion concerns until 2017, and even then he missed just seven games after taking a fastball off the helmet during a game against the Diamondbacks in early April. But on Sunday, Posey took another foul tip against the Reds, and again he is on the 7-day concussion list.
The questions will again start to be asked about how much longer Posey should continue to catch. He acknowledged Thursday that he will spend part of his time on the concussion list talking to doctors and doing additional research about the effects of concussions.
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"When you're dealing with the brain, you've got to be cautious," he said. "I definitely value who I am and will be as a husband and father, first and foremost. At the same time, I enjoy doing my job and plan on doing my job."
Posey plans on doing it soon. He said the symptoms this time are similar to what he dealt with two years ago, and he is optimistic that he will return to the lineup next week.
Posey actually played a game Tuesday after the concussion, but he said he didn't quite feel right. He had a scheduled off day Wednesday and when that game was postponed by rain, he got checked out, confirming that he had suffered a concussion Sunday.
"I felt like I should have felt more normal than this after three days," Posey said.
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He already was working to get back quickly, doing conditioning work Thursday morning to get his heart rate up. Posey will be eligible to return next Wednesday, but the Giants are off Thursday, so that could give them an extra cushion.
In the meantime, manager Bruce Bochy said Stephen Vogt and Aramis Garcia, recalled Thursday, will split time behind the plate. Erik Kratz is eligible to come off the Injured List on Saturday and the staff is currently deciding what to do with him. If Posey needs to miss extended time, it seems likely that Kratz would take Garcia's spot.