Before Saturday afternoon's game against the White Sox, the Athletics made a roster move by placing their starting pitcher JT Ginn for 15 days on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation, alongside a left-handed player Jacob Lopez securing his position on the active roster:
It came unexpectedly since there were no signs suggesting that Ginn wasn't completely fit. Having undergone the severe Tommy John surgery in 2020, such an issue raises significant concerns. The duration of his absence remains unknown at this point; however, it seems improbable that we'll witness his return to the team shortly.
The young pitcher started the season with the Aviators in Triple-A, where he delivered two outstanding performances. Alongside another right-handed player, Joey Estes Facing challenges with the major-league squad, the organization opted against waiting and proceeded with the change. Upon his promotion, Ginn promptly brought greater consistency to the backend of the rotation. This 26-year-old pitcher has started three games for the Athletics this season, recording an ERA of 4.61 over 13 innings. 2 ⁄ 3 So far, he has only been able to pitch 3 frames. 2 ⁄ 3 In his latest appearance against the Rangers, he had already reached 71 pitches and was struggling badly. It seems reasonable to think that Ginn might have detected an issue with his elbow during this game, which led to his subpar performance and premature removal from the pitching mound.
Stepping into Ginn's position on the team temporarily will be the left-handed player. Jacob Lopez . Added this off-season along with today's starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs Lopez has already toggled between the major league roster and Triple-A. This season, he has served as a reliever for the Athletics, though he has previous experience as a starter in the minors. So far, he has made three relief outings for the major league club and has also completed two starts with the Aviators. The team can rely on him to pitch multiple innings whenever needed.
It remains uncertain at this point how the Athletics intend to replace Ginn in the starting rotation. Lopez might be considered since he has performed well overall between Triple-A and the major leagues. Alternatively, they may opt for Estes once more; however, his recent performance in Triple-A has been less impressive, with 9 earned runs over 15 innings. 2 ⁄ 3 Since his demotion, he has remained a notable prospect. Other prospects have also been watched closely. Gunnar Hoglund boasts a 2.92 ERA across his initial six starts at the Triple-A level and was once selected in the first round. Alternatively, the organization might opt for a right-handed pitcher instead. Mitch Spence Although they've chosen to maintain his role in the bullpen so far and he might not be sufficiently conditioned for starting duties, we'll learn more details regarding the pitching rotation plans in the upcoming days. However, this situation doesn't bode well for either Ginn or the Athletics as a whole.
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