LOS ANGELES (AP) — San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman can begin rehabbing his sprained right hand in a week.
He visited Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles on Friday and was told he has to wear his splint until then, the team announced. The Giants were in town to open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Chapman got hurt sliding into first base against Atlanta last Sunday. He went on the injured list two days later and is eligible to return on June 20. The 32-year-old infielder indicated he could be on a faster track.
“He’s always going to be optimistic if you talk to him, so you got to temper that a little bit,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said, “but the news we got from Dr. Shin was good news. He’s very pleased with how it’s recovering.”
Melvin added that until Chapman starts rehabbing, it's tough to forecast a return date.
Chapman was batting .243 with 12 home runs, 30 RBIs and seven stolen bases. The five-time Gold Glove winner signed a $151 million, six-year deal last year.
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San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman throws before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in San Francisco, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece and Cyprus are starting 2026 by turning down the volume.
The countries' capital cities, Athens and Nicosia, have traded the familiar whizz, crackle and boom of window‑rattling fireworks for spectacle without the shock wave, opting for low‑noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays.
The shift aims to make New Year celebrations more child‑ and pet‑friendly — especially for animals with more sensitive hearing — in a break from the loud, combustible traditions of the past.
Athens embraced “quiet” fireworks last year, a decision Mayor Haris Doukas says signals a change in priorities.
“This marks a new era in New Year celebrations,” he said. “A spectacular show of light, without deafening noise — respecting people, animals and the environment.”
Nicosia has gone further, abandoning conventional fireworks altogether after assessing their toll. Event planners and municipal officials say fireworks can cause distress to elderly residents, infants, people with autism and those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“This decision forms part of the municipality’s broader effort to modernize public celebrations and align them with European trends and sustainability objectives,” the municipality said.
Low-noise fireworks still rely on black powder as a propellant to launch and disperse the “stars” or pellets that create colors and visual effects. But they use smaller charges and avoid the explosive bursts that generate the loud cracks typical of traditional displays.
These quieter pyrotechnics are not new and are often incorporated into larger shows, including effects mounted on landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower or the London Eye.
Cris Matthews, founder of Quietworks, a U.K.-based firm specializing in low-impact firework displays, said using quieter options often requires additional planning and creativity, and are ideal for more intimate celebrations.
“The argument for low noise or quiet fireworks becomes a lot more relevant as the shows get smaller,” he said. “For displays such as weddings and private parties, lower-noise firework options can offer many more benefits.”
The private — and often deafening — use of fireworks remains common in Greece and Cyprus for occasions such as Orthodox Easter. In some rural areas, gun-owning traditions still lead to celebratory gunfire. Both practices have resulted in injuries.
Most municipalities in greater Athens this year are sticking with fireworks that include loud bangs. But New Year celebrations in the city center, framed by the ancient Acropolis, are focused on visual splendor, incorporating lights and drones as high-tech options become more sophisticated and affordable.
In Nicosia, drones have now “effectively replaced” fireworks at municipal events, delivering “high levels of creativity,” the municipality said. Unlike fireworks, drone displays generate minimal noise, produce no chemical emissions or debris, and pose no fire risk.
The timing is deliberate. Cyprus assumes the European Union’s rotating presidency on Jan. 1, and the capital plans to use drone displays to showcase Cypriot and EU symbolism throughout the year.
“The Municipality’s overarching objective is to set an example by prioritizing safer, greener, and more sustainable alternatives,” it said, “and by definitively moving away from traditional fireworks in municipal events wherever possible.”
Hadjicostis reported from Nicosia.
Fireworks burst over the Greek capital during the New Year's Eve celebrations, in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
Fireworks burst over the Greek capital during New Year celebrations in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
Fireworks exploded over the capital Nicosia during the New Year's celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year's celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year's celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
