Oakland A’s spring injury updates: Sean Manaea, Daniel Gossett, Matt Chapman

The Oakland A’s are 2-3-1 so far in the Cactus League, but during the spring the team’s health is more important than its record. We took our last look around the trainer’s room on Monday, so here’s an update. The bottom line remains that none of these problems are serious, just minor bumps and bruises and a lot of completely normal early-spring caution.

Sean Manaea

The lefty was scheduled to make his spring debut on Tuesday, but he was scratched due to back tightness. Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle noted at the time that this is nothing new for Manaea and is usually only a brief setback.

Indeed, the very next day he was right back on the mound. Slusser reports that Manaea threw a simulated game on Wednesday, featuring 30-35 pitches (that’s a normal workload for a starter’s spring debut). Insider Jane Lee reports that the A’s are looking to get him into a real game on Tuesday. Well, a real fake spring game, instead of a fake fake spring game. Injury resolved for now.

Daniel Gossett

Like Manaea, Gossett was scratched from his first spring start last Sunday with a tight back. Slusser reports that Gossett will pitch on Saturday against the Padres. Injury resolved for now.

Matt Chapman

Oakland’s third baseman has sat out the spring so far due to a sore hand (bone bruise) that required a cortisone shot. He made a tangible step forward on Thursday, though, as explained by Lee: “Chapman says he did some tee and soft toss work with the bat this morning and felt good. First time swinging since he got cortisone shot last week.” He’s still not playing yet, but swinging a bat is an obvious milestone as he works his way back.

Prospects

RHP Logan Shore ranks 13th on our Community Prospect List. Unfortunately, he was scratched from a scheduled appearance on Monday in order to get an MRI on a trapezius strain, reports Slusser. He’s not currently expected to miss much time, but it’s worth noting that last season he lost two months to a lat injury (not clear if this trap issue is on the same side as the previous lat issue).

Next up is SS Jorge Mateo, who ranks 3rd on our CPL. He’s been held back so far due to an offseason knee sprain, but Martin Gallegos of the East Bay Times has this update: “A’s top prospect Jorge Mateo moving around well during infield drills. Seems to have no limitations.” Still no target date for return, though.

Finally, RHP Jake Sanchez is on the road to recovery. The high-velocity reliever had his 2017 cut short by an elbow problem (which likely cost him a spot on our CPL), but he posted this update on Wednesday.

Get well soon, ball