Elephant Rumblings: Gelof, Langeliers, Waldichuk, Basso updates

MLB news roundup

Rise and shine everyone! Happy Thursday!

We got a mixed bag of injury news late last night as Martin Gallegos reported on some key injuries to the Athletics right now:

Starting with the good news, second baseman Zack Gelof continues to inch closer and closer to being activated and rejoining the team for the first time since the final week of spring training. First placed on the IL to open the season with a broke hamate bone in his hand, that injury is long in the rearview mirror after he suffered the rib injury that cost him another month+ of the season. He’s now working his way back from that and finally began his rehab assignment on Tuesday, going 0-for-2 but with two walks and two stolen bases as the designated hitter. He got Wednesday off but will now push himself a bit when he takes to the field for the first time.

The club has until June 7th to activate him but they may not wait that long. If he can handle a full nine innings in the field and seems to be swinging the bat well, he’ll come off the IL earlier. What they do with him and Luis Urias on the same team is a discussion for another day, but when Gelof returns second base is his.

Secondly, starting catcher Shea Langeliers, who found himself on the IL for the first time in his career with a strained left oblique, seems to be coming along well as he’s begun ramping up a bit. As the team’s cleanup hitter and primary catcher for the pitching staff, the club would surely love to have his bat and glove back sooner than later. That said, oblique injuries have a knack for being tricky so it’s best to take it slowly with ‘Bangeliers’. It’s going to be a while before we see him suit up again but it’s encouraging he’s making progress nonetheless. For now, Austin Wynns and Willie MacIver will continue the bulk of the catching duties, and they aren’t exactly young and exciting prospects. Could we see former 1st-rounder Daniel Susac, who’s hitting the ball well in Triple-A, sooner than later? If Langeliers is out for a lot longer than anticipated, it couldn’t hurt to continue the youth movement some more.

Perhaps the most surprising but encouraging bit of news we got concerned left-hander Ken Waldichuk. Once considered the top pitching prospect in the entire system, Waldy has seen his star fade over the past couple of years due to ineffectiveness and then injury. He’s finally about to get back into game action after recovering from Tommy John surgery, and it seems possible that we could end up seeing him suit up in uniform for the big league team before the All-Star break. At the very least, it seems like Waldichuk could very well be an option in the second half of the season for a team fading from playoff contention. Getting a look at what the top return piece from the Frankie Montas trade has to offer so long removed from the majors will be a big storyline to watch in the second half. Now it’s time to start wondering: what will his role be when he returns?

And onto the bad news. Left-hander Brady Basso, who suffered a strain to his throwing shoulder at the outset of spring training, was finally ramping up and inching towards a return to the major leagues as he had made three rehab outings, including the last two at Triple-A. An intriguing lefty that consistently ranks among the top-20 prospects in the farm system, Basso held his own in his first cup of coffee in the majors last season. He was a dark horse candidate to nab a roster spot to open the year but the first injury and now whatever this new one is will sideline him for at least the entirety of the first half, and likely longer. It’s a disappointing outcome for him and the team but hopefully it’s not a serious injury that costs him even more time. We should know more soon enough what’s caused him to stop his rehab.

That’s all the injury news we got for you guys today, and the A’s have a series finale against a division rival set for this evening. Have an excellent day everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Smacked By Astros 11-4
• Athletics fall (hard) to Astros 13-3
• Athletics owner John Fisher set to put San Jose Earthquakes on the market
• A’s roster moves: Gio Urshela activated, Seth Brown placed on IL
• A’s Sign Scott McGough To Minor League Deal
• Latest Athletics injuries and transactions

MLB News & Interest:

• Rays owner enters negotiations to sell team to group of investors
• Dodgers activate starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan
• Phillies bench Nick Castellanos due to comment
• Richard Lovelady opts out of Twins deal
• Orioles minor leaguer Luis Guevara passes away at 19
• Singer defied Dodgers, belted anthem in Spanish
• Latest on Rich Hill, Royals
• Yadi Molina to return as Puerto Rico manager for ‘26 Classic
• Today in Baseball History

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