The Athletics got a bit of relief on the injury front, and it comes with Joshua Kuroda-Grauer back in the mix.
Kuroda-Grauer, who was expected to be done for the year, returned against the Angels after a rehab assignment last week with Triple-A Las Vegas. His comeback is a notable one, especially after he went down with a ruptured testicle about a month ago. The rookie had been one of the more encouraging bats in the lineup, hitting .417 in 60 at-bats after debuting earlier this season.
That kind of production is hard to ignore, even on a team that has spent most of the season trying to survive a wave of injuries. Brent Rooker was the first position player to go down, and he needed surgery that ended his 2026 season.
Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz were also ruled out for the year. Wilson had two procedures, one on his shoulder and one on his knee, though he is expected back next season.
Kuroda-Grauer’s return gives the A’s another contact-heavy bat to work with, and his profile looks a lot like Jacob Wilson’s. He’s the kind of hitter who should post a very high average, even if the power doesn’t come with it.
The bigger question has been where he fits defensively. He has mostly played second and third base, and while he’s been a plus defender, the A’s have still had to juggle his role.
The club made the roster move to activate Kuroda-Grauer by placing Max Muncy on the 10-day injured list with left knee chondromalacia. To clear room on the 40-man roster, the A’s transferred right-handed pitcher J.T.
Ginn to the 60-day injured list. That effectively shuts the door on any return this season.
Muncy’s season now ends with another injury setback. He’s shown flashes with the bat since his debut, but defensively, third base has been a rougher fit. The A’s have liked the offensive potential, yet he still has work to do if he wants to lock down a roster spot next year.
For now, Kuroda-Grauer’s return gives the Athletics one more young hitter to evaluate, and possibly one more piece who could matter when the lineup gets sorted out next season.
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