Giants’ Harrison Bader sees scooter accident take a drastic turn as team suspends pay on $20.5M contract
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants will not pay outfielder Harrison Bader while he recovers from injuries sustained in a late-night scooter accident, the team announced Friday.
Bader crashed his scooter into the rear of a San Francisco Fire Department truck around 2 a.m. Sunday, with the vehicle's wheel rolling over his foot, according to reports. The incident occurred while the 31-year-old was already rehabilitating from plantar fasciitis in his left foot, an injury that had sidelined him since May 29.
"Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison's prior treatment timeline for plantar fasciitis and, unfortunately, his return to the field," Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey said in a statement. "We are still investigating the circumstances of the accident but will be suspending payment to Harrison until he is able to resume performing services for the Club."
The suspension means Bader will forfeit his salary for the remainder of the 2026 season while recovering. He signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract with San Francisco this past offseason.
This marks the second time Bader has been involved in a scooter-related incident during his professional career. While playing for the University of Florida in 2014, he was arrested for drunkenly crashing a scooter into a parked truck, resulting in a 19-game suspension.
Bader, a Gold Glove-winning center fielder, is in his 10th major league season. He began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he spent nearly six years before being traded to the New York Yankees. Since then, he has played for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies before joining the Giants.
In 39 games this season, Bader batted just .170 with five home runs. Career-wise, he carries a .244 average with 93 home runs and 336 RBIs.
The Giants continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sunday's accident.
