Giants Tell Catcher Posey to Avoid Home-Plate Collisions, USA Today Says

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is returning from career-threatening leg and ankle injuries this season with clear orders from his manager: no blocking the plate, USA Today said.

Posey, the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year who helped guide his team to the World Series championship that year, broke his leg and tore three ankle ligaments in a collision with Florida Marlins’ Scott Cousins last May 25. He missed the rest of the season.

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, who has asked Major League Baseball to create rules that will help protect catchers, has asked Posey to swipe tag an opponent whenever possible, according to the newspaper.

Posey, 24, told the newspaper that his ankle is stiff when he wakes up but adjusts quickly and it hasn’t affected his ability to play the position. The Giants will play him at first base sometimes to ease his return from injury. Posey said he doesn’t want to switch positions permanently, according to USA Today. Posey batted .305 with 18 home runs as a rookie.

To contact the reporter on this story: Curtis Eichelberger in Washington at ceichelberge@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net