Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is out of the lineup Friday night due to a right thumb capsule strain.
According to A’s manager Mark Kotsay, Kurtz will likely need a stint on the 10-day injured list. That transaction would cause Kurtz to miss next Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Kurtz is the American League starter at first base after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) of the Toronto Blue Jays pulled out of the affair.
“We had Kurtz evaluated because he’s been dealing with a right thumb issue,” Kotsay said. “He’s played through it for, I don’t want to quote the timeline, but more than a few days. … We’re expecting him to have to go to the IL, which, obviously, will impact the All-Star Game. Once we really determine that, we’ll have more info.”
Kurtz exited Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers after 1 1/2 innings but the club said the departure was due to illness. However, he also appeared to hurt the hand while trying to field a throw in the bottom of the first.
Kurtz, 23, is batting .266 with 20 homers in 92 games. His 66 RBIs entering Friday were second-most in the AL.
The Athletics also placed infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof (knee) on the 10-day injured list and recalled first baseman/outfielder Joey Meneses from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Gelof, 26, was injured while playing left field and had to exit Thursday’s game. He made a sliding catch in foul territory after a long run and his knee was cut after banging into the metal railing in front of the stands.
Gelof had just returned from a right hand contusion on July 4. He is batting .273 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs in 67 games.
Meneses, 34, batted .143 (2-for-14) with two RBIs in seven games with the A’s earlier this season.
–Field Level Media
