WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz will see a hand specialist in Los Angeles on Monday about his injured right thumb and could be headed to the injured list.
Kurtz, the reigning American League rookie of the year, went on the injured list with a sprained right thumb on July 11. He was back in action two weeks later but has struggled at the plate, going 1-for-18 in seven games since returning to the lineup. Kurtz was also hit on the left forearm with a pitch Wednesday night but was able to return to the lineup the next two games.
Manager Mark Kotsay said Sunday that the team will determine the next steps for Kurtz after he visits the specialist.
The 23-year-old Kurtz, who was a prep baseball star at Chattanooga’s Baylor School, is batting .256 with 21 homers and a team-high 69 RBIs. Kurtz ranked third in the majors with 79 walks and was fourth among qualifiers with a .396 on-base percentage going into Sunday’s games. He also ranked 12th in the majors with an .879 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Kotsay also said shortstop Jacob Wilson has been dealing with tendinitis in his knee that has prevented him from playing in the field since Wednesday.
Wilson was a designated hitter the past three games and was out of the starting lineup Sunday but should be back at shortstop Tuesday for the opening game of a road series against the Cincinnati Reds. Wilson has gone 107 straight games without an error, three shy of Mike Bordick’s record for a shortstop set in 2002.
The A’s also expect to get right-hander J.T. Ginn off the injured list to start that game against the Reds. Ginn has been out since July 19 with a blister on his right middle finger. Ginn is 8-6 with a 3.46 ERA this season.
Third baseman Zack Gelof will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Las Vegas after being out since July 10 due to suffering a cut on his right knee when he slid into the wall making a catch.