OAKLAND — Esteury Ruiz was present and not ruled out of action Sunday, but the prognosis of the speedy Athletics’ outfielder won’t be known until he undergoes further testing.
Ruiz left in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins after diving for a ball that wound up being a hit. He remained down for a time after appearing to injure his left (glove) hand and was removed from the game in favor of Seth Brown.
“He’s sore today,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We have an MRI set up for tomorrow so I’ll know more detail.”
Ruiz wasn’t in the starting lineup but wasn’t wearing a splint or a wrap on his glove hand. Kotsay wouldn’t go so far as to rule Ruiz out of the series finale against Miami.
“I wouldn’t (say) unavailable,” Kotsay said. “In the right situation we may use him.”
Ruiz is hitting .262 with two home runs, seven RBIs and four stolen bases while being caught three times. Unlike the full-time role Ruiz had most of last season when he led the majors with 67 stolen bases as a rookie, he’s been used on more of a part-time basis with the ascensions of JJ Bleday and Tyler Nevin, with Nevin also playing both corner infield spots.
Noda and Nick
Ryan Noda and Nick Allen, both optioned recently to Triple-A Las Vegas, will head to the minors with different missions.
Noda was in an 0-for-28 slump that saw his batting average drop to .128.
“It was the right timing for a reset,” Kotsay said. “Any time you get off to a tough start and start chasing results, you can get into a tailspin a little bit. Ryan, he’ll go down get his confidence back, find his swing. He obviously was objectively one of our better hitters in the lineup last year. Just didn’t get off to a great start.”
Allen was hitting .171 with a home run and three RBIs and made six errors in 25 games at shortstop. It’s the fourth time Allen has been sent to Triple-A.
“He’s got to perform,” Kotsay said. “He had a rough start to the season and I think Nick needs to go down and outperform that Triple-A level.”
With Allen off the roster, Kotsay said the A’s are comfortable with Max Schuemann backing up Darell Hernaiz at shortstop.
The force is strong with this one 💫
2nd home run of the game for Brett Harris! pic.twitter.com/BH8BeRBZ9A
— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) May 5, 2024
Harris’ text message overload
Brett Harris, the A’s rookie third baseman who had two home runs Saturday for his first major league hits, said his text messages numbered 350 after his debut the previous night. Now that he’s added the two home runs, Harris is afraid to see how many messages he’s got to return.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Harris said. “I’m going to have to let it go for a while. I think people will understand.”
Harris joins Bert Campaneris (July 23, 1964) as the only players in franchise history with a two-homer game in the first or second game of their career.
Health updates
— Left-handed pitcher Ken Waldichuk (left elbow UCL strain) had a setback after a recent live bullpen and will be re-evaluated.
— Infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar had a setback with his right knee after meniscus surgery.
“He’s had some lateral knee soreness that has slowed him down,” Kotsay said.
— Veteran infielder Aledmys Diaz (calf strain) will test himself running the bases soon and may begin a rehab assignment in mid-May.
— Second baseman Zack Gelof continues a deliberate rehab with a left oblique strain. He’s working out before games, doing some baseball activity including some light swings in the cage.
“It’s one of those injuries you don’t want to rush because it can linger and come back,” Kotsay said. “it’s good to see him just doing the baseball activity. There’s no timeline for him as far as getting out and going on a rehab assignment.”
