San Francisco Giants

Joe Panik not expected to return to Giants until September

Published Aug. 20, 2015 4:44 a.m. ET

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The San Francisco Giants will continue to carry on without their All-Star second baseman for at least another couple weeks.

CSN Bay Area quotes manager Bruce Bochy as saying that it "would be a little bit of a surprise" if second baseman Joe Panik were to return before September.

The good news for the Giants is that Panik, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 2 with lower back inflammation, appears to be on the mend.

According to CSN Bay Area, Panik played catch at the Giants' facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday and is slated to swing the bat over the weekend for the first time since being placed on the DL.

Although the Giants didn't acquire veteran second baseman Chase Utley, whom they showed interest in, they have been in good hands with rookie Kelby Tomlinson at second base while Panik has been inactive.

After going 2 for 4 with an RBI in the Giants' 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Tomlinson is hitting .355/.375/.516 with six RBI in the 13 games in which he's filled in for Panik.

(h/t CSN Bay Area)