Athletics All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz will visit a hand specialist in Los Angeles Monday after his right thumb injury caused him to sit out Sunday for the second straight day.
It’s possible that Kurtz will go on the 10-day injured list for the second time in less than a month.
“We’re going to try to wait to see what comes from that appointment,” manager Mark Kotsay said of Kurtz before Sunday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. “Hopefully, there’s more positive to it. But at this point, we’ll wait to make a decision on him until after he sees the doctor.”
Kurtz was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 11 (retroactive to July 10) due to the injury and was activated on July 25. But he has continued to have troubles with the thumb since his return and is 1-for-18 with 11 strikeouts in seven games, the hit being a three-run homer against the Minnesota Twins.
Over his last 12 games, Kurtz is 1-for-36 with 20 strikeouts to drop his season average to .256. He has 21 homers and a team-best 69 RBIs in 99 games.
Kotsay said the thumb was bothering Kurtz even before the deep slump and IL stint.
“Kurtz has been playing mostly for the last month and a half with this thing,” Kotsay said. “You look at the performance, and you can tell something has an impact on that.”
Shortstop Jacob Wilson also missed Sunday’s game due to patellar tendonitis in his knee. He served as designated hitter the previous three games due to the issues.
Kotsay expects Wilson to play Tuesday when the Athletics open a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds.
Infielder Zack Gelof (knee) is slated to begin a rehab stint on Tuesday. He’s been out since sliding into a railing in foul territory and sustaining a cut against the Tigers on July 10 in Detroit.
The A’s previously lost two-time All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker (knee) for the season, while All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) and infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer (ruptured testicle) are long shots to return this season.
