A’s No. 18 prospect Ryan Lasko is in stable condition after undergoing spinal decompression and stabilization surgery late last night, the organization said.
The outfielder had the procedure at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano after suffering a C6-C7 vertebra fracture. Dr. Jonathan Poggi performed the surgery.
The A’s said they have already reached out to Lasko’s family and are leaning on their medical staff to help guide his recovery. The team also thanked the people who responded on the scene, including Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, the athletic trainers in Midland, along with the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics.
"I've been in touch with Ryan's mom, Patti, to pass along the organization's support and to let her know that all of us, throughout our system, have them in our thoughts and prayers. We are incredibly grateful to Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, our athletic trainers in Midland, for their on-field actions last night, as well as to the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics on the scene.
We are encouraged by the reports and updates from Dr. Poggi, and we will continue to put all of the resources of our medical staff towards supporting Ryan and his recovery.
Ed Sprague, Director of Player Development, will be arriving in Frisco shortly, and our mental health professionals will be available to the Midland players to make sure they receive any help they need."
The organization also said Ed Sprague, the Director of Player Development, will be arriving in Frisco shortly, and mental health professionals will be available to Midland players who need support.
In Other News...
Dodgers Fans Will Love This Wild Max Muncy Coincidence
There is a little baseball oddity attached to Max Muncy that fits right into the kind of trivia fans love to trade during a game. The name belongs to two big leaguers, one with the Dodgers and one with the Athletics, and the twist is that both players came out of the As pipeline after being drafted by Oakland.
Even stranger, the shared name is only part of the overlap. Maxwell Steven Muncy and Maxwell Price Muncy also celebrate their birthdays on Aug. 25, giving the Athletics a curious link to both versions of Max Muncy that feels almost too neat to be real, even before you get to the fact that the coincidence stops there. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Scramble For More Infield Help As Injuries Keep Mounting
The Red Soxs five-game winning streak disappeared in an 8-1 loss to Washington, and the bigger concern may have been what happened around the loss. Connelly Early exited after four innings with left elbow discomfort, with imaging scheduled, and the night also got testy when Willson Contreras was ejected after charging the mound following an exchange with Cade Cavalli.
All of that has only sharpened Bostons need to keep bolstering the infield, where injuries have already taken a toll all season and the starting middle infield is still a problem. A reported deal nearing the finish line would give the Red Sox another option at second and third base, with a 28-year-old infielder who has handled those spots and has been swinging a productive bat at Triple-A this year. [Read more 🡒]
Even Shorthanded The Athletics Still Have A Real Shohei Ohtani Threat
The Athletics have spent the week shuffling pieces just to keep the roster moving, promoting Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Darell Hernaiz and Kade Morris from Triple-A Las Vegas while also placing Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom on the 10-day injured list. Jos Suarez went on the paternity list and Michael Kelly was designated for assignment, another reminder of how thin things have become for a club already trying to manage absences around Brent Rooker, Zack Gelof and Luis Severino.
Even so, Oakland still has a chance to make this matchup with the Dodgers a little more interesting than it looks on paper. J.T. Ginn is lined up to start, and the As appear set to run Shea Langeliers and Jonah Heim through the lineup against Shohei Ohtani, giving them at least a few proven bats with history against a pitcher who usually turns games into uphill climbs. [Read more 🡒]