Elephant Rumblings: JT Ginn Begins Rehab Assignment

MLB news roundup

Good morning A’s fans!

The team got some good news yesterday on a few injury fronts. The biggest and most impactful update we received was the beginning of right-handed starter JT Ginn’s rehab assignment. The rookie began the season in Triple-A but soon forced his way to the big league roster after early-season struggles from fellow rookie Joey Estes. Once the A’s made that move they got a lot better production out of the fifth starter’s spot for a few turns. In three starts the 25-year-old Ginn pitched 13 ²⁄₃ innings and allowed seven runs. His final start was cut short from this injury but before that he was impressing the club.

Since then the team has gone with another rookie right-hander in Gunnar Hoglund. The former 1st-round pick has made three starts since being recalled and looked impressive so far in three starts, including pitching into the sixth inning last night against the reigning-champion Dodgers. Hoglund has taken advantage of Ginn’s absence and taken a firm grip of that fifth starter’s role. Whenever Ginn is ready to return it won’t be in place of Hoglund.

In last night’s rehab start Ginn went 3 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings against the Padres’ Triple-A team. He generally looked good in his first time back on the mound, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out five batters. Ginn will obviously need more than one rehab outing before he’s a realistic option for the big league starting rotation but it seems he’s dodged the worst-case scenario and will suit up in the Green & Gold again before the season is over.

Elsewhere the club also provided updates on left-handed pitchers Brady Basso and Ken Waldichuk. The left-handed Basso originally went on the IL back in early March with a shoulder strain. After about a month and a half of recovery Basso is finally read to get back on a mound. The 27-year-old is tentatively scheduled to throw his first bullpen session this week when he’s expected to throw 15 pitches to begin his ramp up. Basso came into spring training in position to claim a spot in the bullpen but saw his chances at that end when this injury cropped up. The organization’s #19 prospect according to MLB.com has already made his big league debut and should provide a boost from the left side of the bullpen whenever he’s ready to return.

Waldichuk meanwhile has thrown a pair of side sessions in his own road to recovery. The left-hander went down with an ominous-sounding left elbow sprain in his final start of the 2023 season and a winter of rehab went to waste as the former top prospect would still end up needing the dreaded Tommy John surgery. He missed all of last season as a result and has continued his rehab so far this season. This latest update is encouraging but we shouldn’t expect Waldichuk to be a major factor for the team this season, and if he does return at some point in the second half it’ll almost certainly be in a bullpen capacity. All things go right, the team could welcome back a pair of lefties to the bullpen soon enough.

Have a great day everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics drop Game 2 to the Dodgers 9-3
• Athletics injuries and roster moves updates
• Brady Basso ready for mound work
• A’s roster moves: Otañez activated, Alexander recalled
• Seasons Like 2012 Offer Important Reminders

MLB News & Interest:

• Dodgers promote top prospect Dalton Rushing, DFA Austin Barnes
• Brewers sign Eddie Rosario to minor league deal
• Red Sox place Tanner Houck on IL with forearm strain
• Angels right-hander Ben Joyce out for season with shoulder surgery
• Matt Carpenter retires from MLB
• White Sox return Rule 5 pick Gage Workman back to Tigers
• Reds celebrate Pete Rose day after ban lifted
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

A couple updates from last night’s minor league games:

Starters are set for the Athletics’ first return to the Bay Area since the relocation:

Love to see it: