Chapman is ‘eager’ to get back onto the field
A’s workouts will be mostly closed to the public, but all eyes will be on Matt Chapman as he ventures back to his post at the hot corner after hip surgery.
Full squads don’t report until Feb. 22, but the Oakland A’s social media accounts posted a clip of Chapman fielding ground balls at third base.
“He looked good, maybe even a little lighter,” manager Bob Melvin said over Zoom on Friday. “He’s eager. It’s going to be more trying to hold him back than trying to get him ready.”
Chapman, right now, is on track to be a full go for spring training. Though Melvin said he’s anticipating having Chapman as the designated hitter to start the first few Cactus League games.
“We’ll take the lead from our training staff,” Melvin said.
The 27-year-old has been working out at a facility in Southern California during the offseason — it’ll be worth watching if Chapman can get through spring training without a setback or hitch.
“He’s very driven, he’s a hardworking guy,” Melvin said. “So there was never a doubt in my mind that he would be hitting all the markers along the way, which he has. I think the only thing you worry about is if he’s trying to push it too hard to get back. But he’s not. He’s doing everything that he’s asked to do
and he understands that to come back from this injury you can’t push it too much. You have to rely on and trust what the training staff is telling him to do and he’s doing exactly that.”
The Platinum Glove winner had surgery in September to repair a partial tear in his labrum. He’d been dealing with right hip discomfort practically the entire season in 2020, he said, and felt it worsen on a tricky defensive play he made at third. Chapman struggled mightily after the play, striking out in 10 of his next 11 at bats.
In the 37 games he played, he’d batted .232 with 54 strikeouts in 152 plate appearances — one of baseball’s worst strikeout rates — and 10 home runs. ARAMIS GARCIA: GOOD AT FRAMING PITCHES >> The
A’s knew they’d have to give up Jonah Heim in the trade that netted them Elvis Andrus. The AL West rivals had their eye on him for years. The A’s also knew they’d need someone to replace Heim’s defensive ability as part of the deal. So, they swooped Aramis Garcia, who was out of range at the time of the trade.
Garcia proved in his short time with the San Francisco Giants that he has above average pitch framing abilities, which could put him front and center for backup duties to Sean Murphy (an above average defensive catcher himself). In 2019, Garcia saw 293 pitches converted 53 percent of nonswing pitches into called
strikes in the Shadow Zone (borderline strike zone). If he kept that pace with more time behind the dish, that would qualify Garcia as one of the best pitch framers in baseball.
A’S OFFICIALLY SIGN YUSMEIRO PETIT >> The A’s officially announced Yusmeiro Petit’s one-year deal official Friday. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, they placed starter Frankie Montas on the COVID-19 related injury list. Montas tested positive for coronavirus prior to intake testing at the A’s facility.
Montas tested positive for the coronavirus prior to reporting to camp and can return to the team once cleared by team physicians and the MLB joint committee. There is no time limit on the COVID IL, so Montas can work out with the team while on the IL if he is cleared to. This allows the A’s time to clear a 40-man roster spot for Montas before the season starts.