A’s injury updates: Chad Pinder, Burch Smith on the mend

The Oakland A’s have seven players on their injured list right now, but two of them have made recent progress toward returns in the hopefully near future.

Super-sub Chad Pinder, who sprained his left knee in the first week of the season, has resumed running the bases, reports insider Martin Gallegos, which was considered a major milestone in his recovery. A potential date of May 10 had previously been reported for a possible minor league rehab assignment, and that’s still generally the timeframe — he could even begin as soon as this weekend, adds Gallegos.

Meanwhile, reliever Burch Smith has already begun his rehab. He’s also been out since the first week of April, with a groin strain, and he pitched Thursday night for Triple-A Las Vegas. The right-hander worked 1⅓ innings, facing six batters and striking out two of them, though he did also allow a pair of hits and then watched one of them come around to score after he’d exited the game.

Per Gallegos:

Burch Smith came away feeling good from his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas last night. Melvin says he could rejoin the A’s “pretty soon.” Will discuss more with the training staff.

Here’s the updated injury report:

• RHP Trevor Rosenthal, 60-day IL, thoracic outlet surgery (July at least)
• LHP A.J. Puk, 10-day IL, biceps (threw bullpen session 5/4)
• LHP Jesús Luzardo, 10-day IL, finger (no timetable yet)
• RHP J.B. Wendelken, 10-day IL, oblique (no timetable yet)
• UT Chad Pinder, 10-day IL, knee (start rehab this weekend?)
• RHP Burch Smith, 10-day IL, groin (AAA rehab on 5/6)
• C Aramis Garcia, 10-day IL, illness (but not coronavirus)