A’s 9, Angels 8: Maxwell’s troubles extend to field with a blow to the head
MESA, Ariz. — The A’s haven’t had much concern about Bruce Maxwell’s legal issues causing him to miss time this season. They might have good reason to worry about concussions, however.
Maxwell took a backswing to the head in the second inning of the team’s Cactus League opener Friday at Hohokam Stadium and exited the game.
“I’m not dead! Not dead yet!” he said, strolling by reporters later in the afternoon while still going through the concussion protocol. “I’m fine.”
After the A’s 9-8 win over the Angels, manager Bob Melvin said Maxwell did not have a concussion, “just a big knot on his head.”
Like many catchers, Maxwell has a history of concussions. He missed several games in September after taking a foul ball off the mask.
“Scared the hell out of me right there,” Melvin said. “Thank goodness he didn’t have a concussion. It’s the first thing you think of, and ... the first game he gets whacked again.”
Maxwell was down and still for several minutes after being clocked by Jefry Marte’s backswing. “I think he was just stunned,” Melvin said. “When we were out there, he was never out.”
The more concussions incurred, typically, the easier it becomes to get one. That can be a problem for catchers, who take balls off the mask regularly and bats off the helmet now and again.
“It’s never good, especially in the first game, and he’s had some trouble with that over the last couple of years,” said A’s starter Daniel Mengden. “But he’ll be all right, he’s a trooper.”
First baseman Matt Olson saw Maxwell incur multiple concussions in the minor leagues, and he said, “Whether it’s with a bat or foul tips, he’s had a tough deal with that. The past couple of times he’s gone down, it’s been rough. Hopefully his luck can turn around a little bit with that and it doesn’t impede him in the future.”
The A’s only other left-handed-hitting catcher in camp is Beau Taylor, re-signed over the winter as a minor-league free agent. The other two catchers on the big-league roster are right-handed-hitting Dustin Garneau and Josh Phegley.
Maxwell was indicted Nov. 7 on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after allegedly pointing a gun at a fooddelivery person Oct. 28 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He has a settlement conference scheduled for April 13, and a trial date of Aug. 9 should a plea not be reached before then.
The A’s have not sought additional help at catcher, though numerous agents reached out to discuss free agents. Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto might be available via trade, but the price could be steep; the team is looking for top prospects in return (for instance, asking the Astros for outfielder Kyle Tucker, Houston’s second-best prospect). Oakland is highly unlikely to trade a potential future star such as A.J. Puk, Franklin Barreto or Jorge Mateo for Realmuto.