SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jerar Encarnacion was positioned to make an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, no small feat given how his career has unfolded.

He played six seasons in the minors before making his major-league debut. He ended up in the Mexican League, where he hit 19 homers in 26 games. He parlayed that heater into a minor-league contract with the Giants, with the team last season and emerged as a favorite to win a spot on the bench.

impressed during his little time

But after suffering a hairline fracture in his left ring finger when diving for a ball that will keep him out for at least four-to-five weeks, Encarnacion will need to wait one more year to experience his first Opening Day.

“I don’t feel disappointed at all. I think it’s God’s plan that this happened,” Encarnacion said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “So, the only thing I can do is just continue. I know that I can do the job when the time comes.”

As things stand, it’s looking like Encarnacion’s time will be sometime in May or June, though the team has yet to determine a timetable. Per manager Bob Melvin, the Giants will receive an update on Sunday. When asked if surgery is a possibility, Melvin responded that “anything’s on the table.”

“He was putting himself in a position to get quite a few at-bats. And rightly so,” Melvin said. “Based on what we saw last year, based on what we saw this spring, there’s a lot to like: the power dynamic, he can play the infield a little bit at first, play the outfield, DH. Sometimes, it’s tough for guys to DH and he was good at it. So, this stings some. And I feel bad for him because the road he’s taken to get to the big leagues, this is probably going to be as good of an opportunity as he’s ever had.”

There’s never a great time to sustain an injury, but the timing of Encarnacion’s ailment is especially unfortunate given how well he was performing. In the Dominican Winter League, Encarnacion hit four home runs and totaled 27 RBIs with a .297 batting average for Aguilas Cibaenas. That momentum carried into Cactus League play, where he hit .302 with two home runs, a team-high 14 RBIs and a .856 OPS.

“It’s only one finger. I still have my other hand. I still have the rest of my body and my legs,” Encarnacion said. “I can do some things to stay ready.”