San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader will miss the remainder of the 2026 MLB season, following new details emerging about a scooter accident that reportedly aggravated a pre-existing foot injury. The Giants manager, Tony Vitello, confirmed Bader’s season-ending status on Thursday.
The incident involved Bader in a scooter accident over the past weekend. The team had previously released a statement on Tuesday, indicating that the 32-year-old had a scooter accident on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. This occurred before he was scheduled to meet with a specialist in Indianapolis regarding his ongoing plantar fasciitis.
However, the scooter incident reportedly altered the nature of his scheduled evaluation with the specialist. Bader was then slated to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the new injury. Vitello reportedly stated that Bader’s season-ending injury was primarily due to his pre-existing left plantar fasciitis, rather than the scooter accident itself, though the team was still gathering information about the crash.
Details of the Scooter Incident
Reports from Thursday provided additional information about the accident. Bader’s scooter reportedly collided with a fire engine around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. The crash occurred in the vicinity of Balboa Cafe, a known establishment in San Francisco’s Marina District.
According to one report, the scooter crashed into the back of a San Francisco Fire Department fire engine, and a wheel of the fire engine then rolled over Bader’s foot, causing a significant injury. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that a fire truck and a scooter had collided just before 2 a.m. on Sunday at the intersection of Greenwich and Fillmore streets, near Balboa Café in the city’s Cow Hollow neighborhood. However, the fire department did not specify who was at fault in the collision.
The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the crash. They noted that the individual on the scooter received medical assistance and was transported to a local hospital for injuries described as non-life-threatening. Sources later confirmed that Bader was the person riding the scooter involved in the collision.
Bader’s Season Performance and Injury History
Bader has not played for San Francisco since May 29, having been sidelined due to his foot injury. Earlier in the season, he also missed approximately a month of play because of a hamstring injury. This series of setbacks has limited the outfielder to just 30 games during the 2026 season.
Bader joined the Giants this offseason after signing a two-year, $20.5 million free-agent contract. Despite being a former Gold Glover known for his defensive skills in center field when healthy, his offensive performance this season has been challenging. In his 30 games, he recorded a slash line of .170/.198/.358 across 106 at-bats, including five home runs and 14 RBI. His 54 OPS+, which accounts for the pitcher-friendly conditions at Oracle Park, represents a new low in a career not primarily recognized for consistent hitting.
This is not the first time Bader has been associated with a scooter incident. During his sophomore year at the University of Florida, he was suspended for 19 games following a late-night scooter crash. In that prior incident, he was reportedly alleged to have hit a parked Ford F-150.
Bader was scheduled to see a specialist in Indianapolis on Monday to evaluate his plantar fasciitis before the recent scooter accident occurred.
Source: nbcnews.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.