The Athletics are expected to put first baseman Nick Kurtz on the injured list with a right thumb strain, reports Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Kurtz left Wednesday’s game against the Tigers with an illness, but was back in the lineup yesterday. It’s unclear when he suffered the thumb injury.
Kurtz is in the middle of a strong follow-up to his unanimous AL Rookie of the Year campaign. He’s posted a .902 OPS with 20 home runs through 92 games. The first baseman is tied for fifth in the AL in wRC+. Kurtz was expected to draw the start in next week’s All-Star game, with Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. declining the invitation. His status for the exhibition is now in doubt.
Infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof is also headed to the injured list with a knee laceration. That move has been confirmed by the team. Gelof was removed from Thursday’s matchup against the Tigers after sliding into the left field wall to secure a fly ball off the bat of Zach McKinstry. The A’s recalled first baseman Joey Meneses to take his spot on the roster.
Gelof just got off the injured list over the weekend. He required a minimum stint on the IL while nursing a hand injury. The 26-year-old utilityman will now be sidelined for at least the final series before the break and the week to follow. Gelof had struggled in his brief return, but his overall numbers remain strong. He’s put together a 120 wRC+ in 67 games bouncing around the diamond. It’s an impressive turnaround after mounting strikeout issues threatened to derail Gelof following a promising rookie season.
Meneses joined the organization on a minor league pact over the winter. This will be his second big-league stint this year. The 34-year-old is 2-for-14 in limited opportunities with the A’s. Meneses had a couple of decent seasons with the Nationals, but didn’t play in the majors last year. He spent the 2025 season at Triple-A with the Mets.
The A’s got shortstop Jacob Wilson and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom back in the lineup earlier this week. Soderstrom could chip in at first base with Kurtz out. Meneses is drawing the start at the cold corner tonight. Gelof was spending his time in the outfield lately, with Joshua Kuroda-Grauer earning regular opportunities in the infield. Lawrence Butler now has a clearer path to consistent playing time. Jeff McNeil replaced Kurtz on Wednesday and could also see additional at-bats.
Photo courtesy of Sergio Estrada, Imagn Images
