Elephant Rumblings: Gelof & Langeliers out on rehab assignments

MLB news roundup

Moring everyone!

Last night the A’s won the second game of their three-game series with the Tigers. That sets them up for a possible series win this morning against the team tied for the best record in the entire sport. The season is already lost as far as the postseason is concerned, but playing spoiler and stealing wins against teams vying for October baseball is fun in its own resentful way.

That said, the biggest game for the organization did not occur at the major league level. Instead down in Triple-A the Aviators welcomed Athletics starting catcher Shea Langeliers to their lineup for the first time this season, officially beginning his rehab assignment from that strained left oblique he suffered back in a June 5th win against the Minnesota Twins:

‘Bangeliers’ as he’s affectionately known was the designated hitter for the Aviators last night, and he wound up going 2-for-3 with a run scored. He’ll likely get tomorrow off to see how he feels after testing out that oblique, but if everything goes smoothly he should be back in the lineup the next day, and perhaps even behind the plate. He looks like he hasn’t missed a beat:

It has only been 20 days since the injury occurred but the team must feel he’s made enough progress to start the clock on his rehab assignment, which can last up to 20 days at most unless he suffers a setback. That means we have a small chance of seeing him back before the All-Star Break, but there are only 18 days left until then. Considering it’s an oblique injury (notoriously finicky), Langeliers and the team had better be certain he’s ready to return. Otherwise they could just wait until after the break, giving the catcher an extra four days of rest before getting activated to begin the second half. It is a marathon, after all.

The 27-year-old catcher, now in his third season as the Athletics’ starting catcher, was hitting .237/.300/.430 with 10 home runs at the time of his injury, which comes out to be ever so slightly above league average for the position. His batting average and on-base percentage are both up from last season and the year before, but the power has fallen off dramatically after he hit 29 long balls last season. Still, he had been the team’s cleanup hitter for most of this season, and his absence from behind the plate has been felt too.

The A’s are 8-8 since Langeliers was placed on the IL, not letting themselves fall farther down the standings and into White Sox territory. His replacements behind the plate, rookie Willie MacIver and newcomer Austin Wynns, have combined to go just 11-for-63, which comes out to a .174 batting average. Wynns came through in a big way for a win over the Royals with a two-run homer that sealed the win a couple weeks ago, but outside of that the A’s have received little production from behind the plate with Langeliers on the shelf.

Langeliers’ absence is surely also affecting the pitching staff as they’re missing their battery mate and have two catchers who were not on the Opening Day roster. It’s important not to rush him back before he’s ready, but dang does this team need their starting backstop back. It seems we won’t be waiting too much longer before we see him back in uniform behind home plate. Best case scenario.

Not to be forgotten, second baseman Zack Gelof was also in the Aviators’ lineup last night, batting leadoff just ahead of Langeliers in the batting order. He’s now on his second rehab assignment of the season, which he began last Tuesday. He’s played in six games during this stint, going 4-for-16 with an eye-catching eight walks compared to just three strikeouts. And that includes last night’s 2-for-4 effort that saw him collect his first two doubles for the Aviators. He’s also gotten work in the field, starting four games at the keystone compared to two at DH, crossing off that box on his list.

Unlike Langeliers, Gelof will almost certainly be activated off the injured list before the All-Star Break based on when he started his rehab assignment. That could mean a short-term roster crunch with second base currently occupied by Luis Urias. Only signed to a one-year deal, it’s almost certain that the A’s will move Urias before the trade deadline to make room for Gelof’s return, with chatter already picking up regarding the 28-year-old. It’s hard to see the A’s trading Urias the moment they activate Gelof off the IL, so manager Mark Kotsay will have to juggle them for a few weeks until the end of July arrives. Or maybe a trade does in fact come together that quickly. Who knows? First things first: get Gelof back in uniform and back on the field.

Have a great day everyone!

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Snap Skid, Beat Tigers 3-0
• A’s Drop Road Opener To Tigers 11-4
• A’s Break Ground On Exciting State-Of-The-Art Pool Table Or Litter Box
• Cubs have reportedly inquired about A’s second baseman Luis Urias
• Questions remain as A’s stadium breaks ground in Las Vegas
• The A’s Las Vegas Groundbreaking Ceremony Had a Different Feel Than Expected
• Latest Athletics injuries and transactions

MLB News & Interest:

• Sources: Fan who taunted Ketel Marte banned indefinitely from all MLB stadiums
• Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. to return to Home Run Derby
• Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford to undergo wrist surgery likely done for year
• Cardinals place Jordan Walker on IL with appendicitis
• Rays, MLB have discussed potential playoff hosting plans
• MRI comes back clean on shoulder of Angels’ Zach Neto
• Derek Flavey: Twins not focused on selling
• Jacob deGrom takes no-hitter into 8th inning vs. Orioles
• Extension talks between Astros, Jeremey Pena put on hold
• Diego Segui, starting pitcher in Mariners’ 1st game, dies at 87
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

And that continued last night as he blanked the Tigers:

One of these guys will for sure be traded. Would the other be a realistic trade option?