Giants sign veteran utility player Bill Hall

Bill Hall was home in Arizona playing video games with his cousin when his agent called to tell him Freddy Sanchez was injured and the San Francisco Giants might need an infielder.

A little over 12 hours later, Hall was in San Francisco having signed a deal with the Giants. One week after being released by last-place Houston, Hall is now in first place in the NL West with the defending World Series champions.

“I felt like this was a good option,” Hall said Saturday. “I know a lot of guys on the team. I’m in first place now. That helps. From what I’ve heard, this is a great clubhouse, a good organization.”

Hall, 31, struggled this season with the Astros, batting .224 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 46 games. But he hit 18 homers a year ago in Boston and is a reliable option in the infield and outfield, making him the perfect choice for the Giants when Sanchez went down.

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Hanley Ramirez could return to the Florida Marlins Tuesday, when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list. Ramirez, out with a back strain since May 30, was scheduled to make his second rehab start for Class-A Jupiter (Fla.) on Saturday night. If things go as planned, the All-Star shortstop will return to the Marlins on Sunday to take batting practice, work out with the team Monday and return to the lineup at Philadelphia on Tuesday, when he can come off the DL.