Injury Updates on Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, and Ken Waldichuk

Jason Burke | Apr 10, 2024

May 5, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker (25) / Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland A's manager Mark Kotsay gave reporters in Texas a few updates on some key injured A's players on Tuesday.

Ryan Noda was originally in the starting lineup, but was scratched before first pitch after he took a pitch off the hand during batting practice. "We were having a little early BP on the slider machine today and he ended up taking one off the hand. X-Rays are negative, so he's day-to-day." Kotsay also said he could be available for Tuesday's game off the bench, but with the way that Shea Langeliers was swinging the bat (3-for-4, three homers, four RBI), Noda was not needed.

Ken Waldichuk threw a bullpen on Monday per the skipper, and "so far everything is going in the right direction for Kenny. He's feeling good and just continuing to build up." The left-hander currently does not have a timetable for his return.

Brent Rooker left Sunday's game early due to abdominal soreness, and he is still day-to-day. "We're going to give him a little bit of time. At this point right now I don't really have anything more, other than just letting him have another day."

Reporters in Texas also asked if there could be a move made in the coming days, but Kotsay said that the team feels comfortable with where they're at in not needing to make a move. The plan is to give the injuries to Rooker and Noda another day or two.

During Tuesday night's game, A's starter Alex Wood was visited on the mound after an apparent cramp popped up in his lower half. He was pulled from the game after four innings, making way for Rule 5 draftee Mitch Spence, who twirled a solid three innings in relief, giving up one run, a solo home run to Evan Carter.

After the game, Kotsay said of Wood's injury, "He called us out as his calf was cramping up. Even though it's a domed stadium, it was pretty humid out there. I think it just got to him a little bit with dehydration. Rather than send him back out for the fifth inning, we decided to be more cautious and get him out of the game."