Giants’ Madison Bumgarner will not participate in Home Run Derby

The players union, of course, they don’t want a pitcher taking a player’s spot in the home run derby,” Bochy said, “and I don’t think they were too keen on doing the pitchers (only) thing this year.

[...] Bumgarner has hit 13 career home runs — two this season — in the fewest at-bats for any pitcher since 1969.

Bochy, whose major-league career dates back to his rookie season with the Astros in 1978, remarked Thursday that Bumgarner is the best hitting pitcher he has seen.

Bumgarner, who is hitting .175 in 40 at-bats this season, became the first pitcher in 40 years Thursday intentionally tapped by his team to hit in an American League ballpark.

Infielder Grant Green, who has been called up from Triple-A Sacramento, will make his Giants debut when he starts at second base Thursday against the A’s.

Coincidentally, Green — who had stitches removed Wednesday — was called up after infielder Ramiro Peña sprained his left ankle colliding with Williamson in the third inning of Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the A’s.

To clear a spot for Green on its 40-man roster, San Francisco optioned right-hander Chris Stratton to Sacramento and designated right-hander Jake Smith for assignment.