Fuld will miss start with shoulder injury
MESA, Ariz. — Oakland’s Opening Night roster became more clear Sunday, though not in a good way — outfielder Sam Fuld is out of the running with a left shoulder injury that will sideline him for at least three weeks.
“I don’t think these things are easy to predict a timeline on, but that seems appropriate,” Fuld said. “I think the long- term prognosis is good. It’s not necessarily what you want to hear, but it could be worse.”
Fuld, 34, is out of options but the team values his defense highly, and he was 10- for- 24 (. 417) this spring after batting .197 last year.
“Obviously, there’s never a good time for an injury,” Fuld said. “But when you’re playing well, you want to keep playing.”
“Sammy does have some nice little streaks in him and early in the season was a godsend to us, leading off,” manager Bob Melvin said. “You know you’re going to get your defense from him at any of the three positions. Baserunning, he gets all the little things right. Very valuable to a team.”
With Fuld expected to be on the disabled list to start the season, Oakland’s extra outfielders are likely to be Coco Crisp, Mark Canha and utilityman Chris Coghlan. Eric Sogard, the A’s longtime utility infielder, has options remaining.
Fuld incurred what Melvin termed a moderate shoulder sprain while making a throw to the plate in the fifth inning Saturday.
Fuld is expected to leave for Florida any day now for the birth of his fourth child, who was due Saturday; if the baby does not arrive before Friday, Fuld said, his wife, Sarah, is scheduled to be induced.
In addition, Melvin said that Sean Doolittle is dealing with a slight triceps strain, but the A’s closer said he dealt with the same thing last spring, and he doesn’t consider it an issue. He threw a flat- ground session and said it went well. He’ll throw off the mound Monday and could be throwing in minorleague games later in the week.
Doolittle already had been scheduled to work in minorleague games at this point because he wants to throw his offspeed stuff, particularly his changeup, in a more controlled environment. Melvin said Doolittle will be fully ready for the start of the season, barring any setbacks.
Hill’s day: Rich Hill, the A’s projected No. 2 starter, allowed one hit and two walks and hit three batters in a five- inning outing in a minor- league game. He was pleased that some mechanical adjustments he’d been working on with his arm slot and posture had helped him.
“For the most part, going in the right direction,” Hill said. “Positive day.”
Hill had allowed 10 hits and 12 walks in 72⁄ innings over his first three outings. Cuts: Top prospect Franklin Barreto, a shortstop with three homers this spring, was sent to minor- league camp, along with first baseman Matt Olson and infielder Chad Pinder, plus right- handers Ryan Brasier, Angel Castro and Eduard Santos and catcher Bryan Anderson.