Kurtz diagnosed with volar plate tear; Springs placed for fatigued hip. Barnett takes rotation spot; Johnson joins bullpen.
Nick Kurtz went to Los Angeles on Monday to see a hand specialist, Dr. Steve Shinn, and was diagnosed with an acute on-chronic volar plate tear of the MCP joint. On Tuesday he was placed on the IL. Kurtz will undergo an ultrasound-guided PRP injection today and will not undergo baseball activities at this time.
We knew a change to the A's rotation was coming, and we figured Springs would be the odd man out, but on Tuesday the club placed him on the IL for the hip injury that he's been trying to pitch through this season. The official diagnosis is a fatigued right hip and the MRI was negative for an acute injury. He will begin a throwing program in the middle of the week.
Taking his place in the rotation will be Mason Barnett, who is scheduled to pitch on Thursday in Cincinnati against Hunter Greene.
The A's also designated Ben Bowden for assignment on Tuesday, clearing a spot for newly acquired Seth Johnson in the bullpen. Johnson was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Colby Thomas at Monday's Trade Deadline.
The A's claimed left-hander Connor Thomas from the Atlanta Braves last week, and then designated him for assignment when Ben Bowden was called up for some innings over the weekend. Thomas has been claimed by the Kansas City Royals, while Bowden was DFA'd to make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster.
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, who was designated for assignment on July 31, has cleared waivers and been outrighted back to Triple-A Las Vegas.
On the bright side, Zack Gelof is starting his rehab assignment today with Las Vegas, as we reported on Sunday. On June 25, Gelof had to exit a game against the San Francisco Giants with a right hand contusion after Matt Chapman stepped on his hand while Gelof covered second base. He returned from that injury on July 4.
Less than a week later, on July 10, he was placed on the IL yet again after making a sliding catch in left field that drove his knee into a small fence in foul territory. Now, nearly a month later, he is set to take the field again in the final steps of his recovery.
This past week in Sacramento when he would walk by the media, Gelof would just say, "baseball activities, guys!" as a quick update on his status.
