A’s place second baseman Zack Gelof on injured list with left oblique strain

By LARRY FLEISHER
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof was put on the 10-day injured list Thursday because of a strained left oblique.

Gelof was a late scratch from Wednesday’s game after feeling pain during his pregame routine and an MRI showed the low-grade strain. The IL move was retroactive to Wednesday.

“He went through his pregame routine and we decided to take a cautious side and I think if it was into September, he probably would have played, though, if you asked him but being that it’s April, I’m glad we’re erring on the side of caution,” manager Mark Kotsay said before Oakland’s series finale against the New York Yankees.

Gelof is hitting .196 with two homers and two RBIs in 24 games. His two-run, ninth-inning homer Monday off Victor González lifted the A’s to a 2-0 win.

Gelof started in Oakland’s first 24 games. Abraham Toro and rookie Max Schuemann likely will split time at second base until the former first-round pick returns.

“We’re hopeful that it’s a short period of time as opposed to a long period of time,” Kotsay said. “Catching it early will hopefully limit the amount of days on the IL. We all know what he means to the club.”

As a rookie last season, Gelof batted .267 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs in 69 games after making his big league debut on July 14.

Infielder Darrell Hernaiz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. Hernaiz made Oakland’s opening day roster and was 3 for 29 before he was optioned to the Aviators on April 17.

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