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- A’s placed All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz on 10-day IL with an aggravated thumb injury.
- Kurtz will receive a PRP injection and is sidelined from baseball for now.
- A’s ace J.T. Ginn was reactivated from the injured list Tuesday.
The Athletics placed All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz back on the 10-day injured list with a reaggravated right thumb strain that appeared to cause a decrease in production since he returned from the IL last week, the club announced Tuesday.
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Kurtz was diagnosed with a reaggravated injury to a chronic volar plate tear of his MCP joint — often caused by hyperextension — when he visited hand specialist Dr. Steve Shinn in Los Angeles on Monday, the team said in a news release.
The A’s said that Kurtz will get a PRP injection Tuesday and cannot participate in baseball activities for now. His placement on the injured list was retroactive to Saturday, since he has not played since Friday.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Reds in Cincinnati, A’s manager Mark Kotsay said there is no timeline for Kurtz’s return, though he said it would be more than the 10-day minimum. Kotsay also didn’t rule out shutting Kurtz down for the season.
“The goal obviously is to just get this thing put behind him,” Kotsay said.
Kurtz, 23, was last placed on the IL on July 10 with a right thumb capsule strain, which kept him out for about two weeks.
Since returning to the A’s lineup July 25, Kurtz uncharacteristically went 1-for-18 at the plate as Kotsay noted that he was continuing to play through the thumb injury.
“Kurtz has been playing mostly for the last month and a half with this thing,” Kotsay said Sunday, according to MLB.com. “You look at the performance, and you can tell something has an impact on that.”
Overall, Kurtz has the 13th-best OPS in the MLB at .879, while being third in the league in walks (79) alongside 21 home runs and 69 RBI in 99 games. Since storming onto the scene midway through last season to unanimously win the American League Rookie of the Year, Kurtz has been one of the best hitters in the league and one of few consistent presences in an A’s lineup marred by injuries.
Fellow 2026 All-Star Shea Langeliers is likely out for the season, two-time All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker is definitely out for the season and other key contributors have spent time on and off the injured list this season. Now, the A’s will be without another one of their top bats for at least a few weeks.
J.T. Ginn reactivated in flurry of moves
Beyond Kurtz’s injury, the A’s also made a flurry of roster moves and got some positive injury news regarding ace J.T. Ginn and infielder Zack Gelof, who will begin a Triple-A rehab assignment Tuesday.
Ginn, 27, was reactivated from the injured list and is scheduled to start in Tuesday’s series-opener against the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander was initially placed on the IL retroactive to July 18 for a right middle finger blister, though he felt good enough in live sessions and bullpens allowing to forego a rehab stint.
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Widely considered an All-Star snub this season, Ginn holds an 8-6 record, 3.46 ERA and 100 strikeouts over 109 1/3 innings across 22 appearances. This season has been a renaissance for Ginn, who started the year in Triple-A after posting an ERA above 5 last season.
“He’s been our best starter all season,” Kotsay said Tuesday. “It’s nice to have someone that we feel real confident about when he takes the mound going out there. “
While the A’s got one starter back from the IL, another one landed on it.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who leads the MLB in losses (11) and home runs surrendered (28), was placed on the 15-day injured list with right hip discomfort.
According to the A’s injury report, an MRI didn’t show any specific injuries for the 33-year-old, who is expected to start a throwing program this week.
Springs holds a 3-11 record and a 6.17 ERA in 22 starts this season. He hasn’t won a game since May, having lost 11 decisions in a row.
Infielder Max Muncy, an opening day starter at third base for the A’s, was recalled in a corresponding move after getting four hits including a home run in five games since being sent down July 25.
Kotsay said that Muncy, veteran infielder Jeff McNeil, top prospect Tommy White and primary catcher Jonah Heim will all likely play some first base with Kurtz out.
The A’s also designated left-handed reliever Ben Bowden, who gave up four runs in one inning Sunday in his lone Major League appearance this season, for assignment.
The A’s also additionally announced that their No. 22 overall prospect, right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang cleared waivers after being designated for assignment Friday, and will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.
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This story was originally published August 4, 2026 at 1:23 PM.