Earlier this week, the Athletics introduced that veteran catcher Manny Piña was unsure for Opening Day resulting from discomfort in his left wrist. It was an alarming improvement contemplating Piña misplaced nearly all of final season after struggling ligament and cartilage harm within the joint which required surgical procedure.
On Thursday afternoon, Oakland knowledgeable reporters that Piña was headed for analysis with the specialist who carried out final Could’s process (relayed by Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle). The membership continues to be awaiting the outcomes of that examination and has but to ahead a timetable for Piña’s return.
Whereas the A’s haven’t formally introduced that Piña will begin the season on the injured record, it appears seemingly with Opening Day two weeks out. If that proves to be the case, the membership should make a roster transfer for depth functions. Shea Langeliers is at the moment the one different catcher on the 40-man roster.
That depth may come from one of many non-roster backstops attempting to stay with the membership in spring coaching. Yohel Pozo, who performed 21 MLB video games with the Rangers two seasons in the past, is in camp on a minor league deal. Oakland additionally invited minor leaguers Kyle McCann, Tyler Soderstrom and final 12 months’s first-round choice Daniel Susac to spring coaching.
Susac just isn’t in consideration for an MLB job at this younger stage of his profession, nonetheless, whereas McCann (a fourth-round choose in 2019) performed most of final season with Double-A Midland. Soderstrom is an attention-grabbing risk, Oakland’s first-round select of highschool in 2021 traversed three ranges final 12 months, mashing over 89 video games for Excessive-A Lansing, persevering with to carry out effectively in Midland and securing a late-season cup of espresso with Triple-A Las Vegas. The 21-year-old backstop is now regarded by most evaluators as the highest prospect within the group.
Given Soderstrom’s youth and questions on his protection, it appears seemingly he’ll head again to Vegas not less than to open the season. Nonetheless, Oakland basic supervisor David Forst instructed this week there’s not less than a small window for both of Soderstrom or third base prospect Zack Gelof to take an enormous league job — if not out of camp, then sooner or later this summer time.
“Something can occur,” Forst mentioned. “These guys have carried out in Triple-A. They’ve performed within the Fall League. They’re right here getting begins in Main League video games, so I believe it might comply with that you just hope their alternative to contribute comes this 12 months sooner or later.” Gelof can be a 2021 draftee, although he was chosen out of faculty and is 2 years older than Soderstrom. The Virginia product hit .271/.356/.438 in 87 Double-A video games earlier than a late-season bump to Triple-A.
Sending Soderstrom to Las Vegas, which nonetheless appears the likeliest transfer, would clear a path for Pozo or McCann to crack the roster as Langeliers’ backup if Piña misses time. It’s additionally potential the entrance workplace seems outdoors the group as Opening Day attracts nearer.
There are a variety of non-roster gamers on different golf equipment who would change into out there in the event that they don’t break camp within the bigs. The Guardians, as an illustration, have every of Meibrys Viloria, Cam Gallagher and Zack Collins in camp battling for the prospect to again up Mike Zunino. Not less than a type of gamers received’t make the roster and will discover different alternatives.
Or, one other small as an illustration, the Angels have two catchers who can’t be optioned, Max Stassi and Matt Thaiss, competing for jobs with high prospect Logan O’Hoppe and non-roster veteran Chad Wallach. These are only a few examples of organizations whose depth may get squeezed as soon as roster choices must be made later this month.
