Numerous teams constantly have to rebuild. The Athletics have been rebuilding for many seasons as they have been trying to develop their stars. It isnât a great feeling that the A’s are once again at the bottom of the AL West division. It feels worse when the veteran stars they currently have to guide their young talent are injured.
On Tuesday, the Athletics made the tough move to outfielder Denzel Clarke and infielder Max Muncy to the 10-day injured list. They will be evaluated to see how long they will be out for moving forward. While Clarke and Muncy are moved to the IL, two talented but inexperienced players have been called up. This is a chance for outfielders Colby Thomas and Carlos Cortes to prove they belong on the roster moving forward.
How Long Will Clarke and Muncy Be Out for the Athletics?
Clarke has been sent to the IL with a grade 2 right adductor strain following Sundayâs 8-2 series finale loss at the Cleveland Guardians. There are expectations that he could return from injury sooner rather than later, but it forces the Athletics to shift some players in the outfield. He has been serviceable at the plate with a batting average of .230, an on-base percentage of .274, and a slugging percentage of .372 in 148 at-bats. He has accounted for 34 hits, eight RBIs, and 61 strikeouts.
Muncy is out for a right-hand injury that turned out to be negative for something serious. He injured his hand in the Athleticsâ 7-2 road loss to the Texas Rangers. Muncy has had some good moments in his breakout season in the Major League as the main second baseman. In 59 games played and 200 at-bats, Muncy has accounted for 17 runs, 43 hits, nine home runs, 23 RBIs, 65 strikeouts, a batting average of .215, an on-base percentage of .258, and a slugging percentage of .385. Muncyâs injury would place Luis Urias as the starting second baseman until the hand heals up.
Two Players Get an Opportunity With Injuries to Starters
These injuries to the starters and veterans not only allow the backups to come in and prove their worth, but they also open roster spots to minor league players. This is a great opportunity for Thomas and Cortes to show their potential.
Of the two players the Athletics moved up, Thomas is the one who is the most likely to be a potential All-Star. The 24-year-old outfielder was the third-ranked prospect of the Athletics heading into the season and has been on the verge of appearing in his Major League debut for a while.
He played shakily in his first five games played in the Majors when he moved up earlier. Thomas hit 1-of-11 with one hit, one run, six strikeouts, and an on-base percentage of .091. After some much-needed improvement in the minors, Thomas might feel more comfortable and less nervous.
Cortes is on the verge of making his first-ever appearance in the Major Leagues at 28. He has been playing AAA baseball for different teams since 2022. Cortes wasnât able to make his debut with the New York Mets, but he might soon with the Athletics. While he is more of a depth player than Thomas, he might still find his way to the field. He accounted for a .322 batting average, an on-base percentage of .414, and a slugging percentage of .603 in 71 games for the Athleticsâ AAA Las Vegas team.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Athletics Lose Veterans, Move Inexperienced Players Up appeared first on Heavy Sports.