San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants finalized their Opening Day roster on Sunday with a flurry of transactions, including the placement of 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel and promising young lefthanded pitcher Noah Lowry on the 15-day disabled list, both retroactive to March 21.
Vizquel, who turns 41 next month, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February. He is on a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues, and hopes to be back with the big league club in time for San Francisco's home opener on April 7.
One of only seven players in major league history, and the only shortstop, to win multiple Gold Glove Awards in both the National and American Leagues, the Vizquel is regarded as one of the best defensive shortstops of all-time.
A veteran of 19 big league seasons, Vizquel is second all-time with 2,570 career games at shortstop -- just 13 behind fellow Venezuelan Luis Aparicio for the major league record.
The switch-hitter owns a lifetime .274 batting average, while he ranks second among active players with 2,598 hits and fourth with 380 stolen bases. In 2007 Vizquel hit .246 with four homers and 51 runs batted in for the Giants.
Lowry underwent surgery on his left forearm in early March. He hopes to return to the mound for the Giants by late April. The 27-year-old is coming off a 14-8 mark in 2007, in which he logged a 3.92 earned run average. The lefty is 40-31 with a 4.03 ERA in parts of five seasons, all with the Giants.
Also on Sunday, the Giants placed infielder Kevin Frandsen and pitcher Vinnie Chulk on the 15-day DL, both retroactive to March 21. Frandsen is recovering from left Achilles tendon surgery, and Chulk has a right shoulder strain.
The Giants also optioned catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to Triple-A Fresno on Sunday.
