Giants recall Belt

Belt was tearing it up in Fresno (.324, 7 HR, 29 RBI).

On a day that the San Francisco Giants were very busy tinkering with their roster, the club has announced that it is recalling Brandon Belt from Triple-A Fresno. He’s starting at first base tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants placed shortstop Miguel Tejada on the 15-day DL to make room for Belt.

With the addition of infielder Jeff Keppinger, who was acquired earlier today in a trade with the Houston Astros, the Giants have added some pretty decent punch to a lifeless lineup.

Keppinger, a career .284 hitter, was batting .307 for the ‘Stros this season. And Belt — as many Giants fans already know — has the potential to be very special.

No word yet on the corresponding move for Keppinger will be, but all bets are on third string catcher Hector Sanchez heading back to Fresno. He tweeted as much earlier today.

Lots of questions remain as to why the Giants even bothered calling up Sanchez to begin with. He didn’t get much playing time in the week that he was in the majors. In four plate appearances, the 21-year old backstop walked, struck out twice, and grounded into a double play. He is a solid catcher, defensively, but did have one passed ball in four innings behind the plate.

Belt, 23, struggled with the Giants after he was named to the team’s Opening Day roster. In 19 games at the Major League level, Belt has a .211/.328/.281 (0.609 OPS) slash line with 1 HR and 4 RBI. He also has two stolen bases.

The left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder was tearing it up in Fresno, where he batted .324/.462/.549 (1.011 OPS) with 7 HR and 29 RBI. He was just named the Pacific Coast League’s Player of the Week.

How long will Belt stick around this time?

Starting first baseman Aubrey Huff is battling a stiff back and needed a “few days off,” so I’m not sure the Belt move is permanent. A lot of it will be based on how he does over the next three games or so.