Rosenthal is slowed down by groin injury
Oakland’s key bullpen addition misses his scheduled spring debut
A’s closer Trevor Rosenthal wasn’t able to make his spring training debut as planned on Monday due to a slight groin strain.
Although A’s manager Bob Melvin said holding the 30-year-old right-hander out of action against the Royals was strictly precautionary, he admitted there’s no timetable for Rosenthal to resume throwing or get into a game.
“We think it’s minor in nature,” the A’s manager told reporters. “But those type of things you want to be pretty careful with.”
Rosenthal, who became the A’s highest-paid closer ever when he signed a one-year, $11 million free-agent contract last month, has been out of commission for two days. Even if it’s a minor issue, it’s not exactly welcome news for a reliever who’s dealt with injuries in the past, including missing the 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Nonetheless, Rosenthal brings plenty of optimism to an A’s team that lost its All-Star closer Liam Hendricks to the White Sox in free agency.
Rosenthal had a 1.90 ERA in
23.2 innings, including 11 saves in 2020 with the San Diego Padres and Royals in 2020. That was a far cry from his 2019 season, post Tommy John surgery, where he had a 13.50 ERA in 15.1 innings with the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals.
Meanwhile, the A’s got rocked in Surprise, losing to the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Monday afternoon. Most of Oakland’s regulars stayed back for the spring training game, with a good chunk of young players vying for roster spots and playing time making the trek 30 miles Northwest of Mesa to face the Royals’ regulars.
Here are some takeaways:
PARKER DUNSHEE HAS ROUGH TIME >> Dunshee followed up a clean debut his first time out against the Milwaukee Brewers last week with a rough outing against some of the Royals’ best.
The right-hander allowed five runs and six hits in three innings. One of the two home runs he allowed was a three-run home run to Carlos Santana in the first inning.
“Just kind of from the start I wasn’t locating as well as I needed to and they took advantage,” he said.
Dunshee, the A’s 26-yearold prospect, found success last week by attacking the zone, his bread and butter. But he couldn’t find his command on Monday.
“Just not his best command today,” Melvin said. “For him to be good, he’s got to be on the corners, he’s got to be ahead in the count, throwing strikes, which he typically does. Today was not that day for him.” PETIT HAS A ROUGH OUTING, TOO >> There’s no reason to make too much of one spring outing for 36-yearold Yusmeiro Petit. He did give up five runs on five hits while recording just two outs in his spring debut. He gave up two home runs, including one to Royals’ top prospect Bobby Witt Jr.
“First time out, some (pitches) up, he might’ve gotten squeezed on a couple pitches. Just move on,” Melvin said.
INJURY UPDATES >> Jed Lowrie, who is returning to action following knee operation this October, will play second base on Tuesday, Melvin said. Lowrie ran the bases on Sunday, one final hurdle in his recovery, and all went well.
Sean Murphy, who was late to camp after surgery to repair a collapsed lung, is ramping up now and scheduled to take batting practice off coaches this week. If there are no setbacks, the team can start to set a timetable for Murphy’s return.
Rule 5 outfielder Ka’ai Tom (oblique injury) will take batting practice with coaches this week, too, and could be in games for the latter half of Cactus League.
Outfield prospect Skye Bolt returned from a shoulder injury and made his Cactus League debut on Monday, going 0-for-1 in the seven-inning game after taking over for Ramón Laureano in center field.