Giants' Pence out 6-8 weeks with broken arm: 'It's a bone, I'm not dying'

Hunter Pence stressed perspective Friday as he spoke less than 24 hours after fracturing his left forearm.

Forget baseball, he said, how's he supposed to groom himself?

Pence is expected to miss expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after getting plunked by a fastball in the sixth inning of Thursday's game against the Chicago Cubs, but all the shaggy-haired outfielder could talk about was his appearance.

"The saddest part is I really can't comb my hair," Pence joked to reporters at Scottsdale Stadium, "so I apologize for what I look like."

Kidding aside, the San Francisco Giants are quietly optimistic their iron man will return sooner than expected. Pence, the only player in baseball to suit up for all 162 games the past two seasons, said he heals from injuries quicker than he's supposed to.

"It's a bone," he said. "I’m not dying. ... I feel great. Positive. I'll be fine."

The always-upbeat Pence said he views the injury as a blessing, even though he'll be missing in action when the Giants begin defense of their title without the three-time All-Star.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Gregor Blanco, who was expected to serve as the club's fourth outfielder this season after the team signed Nori Aoki, will likely assume the bulk of the at-bats in right field during Pence's absence.

"We have a lot of really, really good outfielders," he said. "Blanco looks great. He always looks ready to play. We have all the faith in the world in him."

Corey Black, the Cubs pitcher who beaned Pence, tweeted best wishes to the 31-year-old veteran Thursday night.

"Lost for words," Black said. "Hope you heal fast @hunterpence. Hitting someone is never a good feeling. Hurting someone is even worse."

Pence, whose MLB-leading 383 consecutive appearance streak is now set to come to an end, is taking it all in stride.

"It happens my friend," Pence replied to Black. "Thanks for the concern. It's part of the game we love/ No slowing down!"