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Aug. 26: Luis Medina (blister) scheduled for regular bullpen session
Medina developed a blister on his right index finger following his outing against the Orioles on Aug. 18. The A’s then placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 21 (retroactive to Aug. 19). After a couple of days of not throwing, Medina joined Triple-A Las Vegas in Tacoma and threw a touch-and-feel bullpen on Friday. Manager Mark Kotsay said “the next step is to throw a full bullpen,” which will likely occur in the next couple of days.

Aug. 25: RHP Mason Miller (right UCL sprain) touches triple digits in third rehab start
Miller made his third rehab start on Thursday (first with Triple-A Las Vegas) and threw three scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and one walk with five strikeouts. According to MLB Pipeline, the right-hander also reached triple digits on his fastball seven times. The A’s No. 3 prospect has now thrown 6 2/3 innings while allowing six hits, three walks and two runs in three rehab outings. 

The right-hander will likely make another rehab start next week with Las Vegas. After that, a big league activation could shortly be on the horizon for Miller.

“I think if his next outing goes well, there could be a plan for him to join this club in September,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “And be utilized probably in a very similar fashion as to how he’s being used now with probably a pitch restriction or inning limit to manage the workload and get him to finish healthy and strong.”

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INJURY UPDATES

10-day and 15-day IL

RHP Luis Medina (blister)
Expected return: TBD
Manager Mark Kotsay said that the A's are going to "take a slower approach" with Medina's blister, which developed during his outing against the Orioles on Aug. 18, to make sure it is fully healed before returning. Medina joined Triple-A Las Vegas in Tacoma and threw a touch-and-feel bullpen with no bandage on Aug. 25. After everything went well in that session, the right-hander will throw a regular bullpen in the next couple of days. He’s not eligible to return to the A’s until next weekend. (Last updated: Aug. 26)

RHP Austin Pruitt (strained right forearm)
Expected return: TBD
Pruitt's placement on the 15-day IL is retroactive to Aug. 17. There is no timetable for his return. (Last updated: Aug. 20)

OF JJ Bleday (left knee sprain)
Expected return: TBD
After jamming his knee during Oakland's loss to the Nationals on Aug. 13, MRI results revealed a sprain in Bleday's left ACL. A's manager Mark Kotsay said team doctors have recommended that Bleday be shut down for the rest of the season, though that decision is still being discussed.

At this point, it is uncertain as to whether Bleday will play again this season. (Last updated: Aug. 15)

RHP Angel Felipe (right elbow sprain)
Expected return: TBD
Felipe experienced discomfort in his elbow during his outing against the Cardinals on Aug. 14. The right-hander traveled back to Oakland for a further examination by team doctors. (Last updated: Aug. 15)

RHP Freddy Tarnok (right calf strain)
Expected return: TBD
After feeling discomfort in the final inning of his outing against the Rangers on Aug. 9, Tarnok underwent an MRI exam that revealed a Grade 2 strain of his right calf. The right-hander is currently shut down from throwing with no timetable for a return at this time. (Last updated: Aug. 14)

60-day IL

RHP Mason Miller (right UCL sprain)
Expected return: TBD
Miller came away from his third rehab outing with Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 24 feeling “good” after throwing three scoreless innings and touching triple digits seven times. He has allowed just two runs across 6 2/3 innings in three rehab appearances so far. The A’s still intend on having the right-hander join the Major League club sometime in September. (Last updated: Aug. 25)

LHP Richard Lovelady (left forearm strain)
Expected return: Out for season
After visiting Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, an examination of Lovelady's left forearm revealed a left flexor pronator strain, which is going to keep him out for the rest of the season. Lovelady, who was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to July 11, appeared in 27 games for the A's this season and posted a 4.63 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 10 walks in 23 1/3 innings. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 23. (Last updated: Aug. 23)

RHP James Kaprielian (strained right shoulder)
Expected return: TBD
Kaprielian, who was originally placed on the injured list on June 27, is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery on Aug. 2. The A's will provide further information on a timeline for Kaprielian to resume throwing at a later date. (Last updated: Aug. 21)

RHP Drew Rucinski (left hip and lower back issues)
Expected return: Out for season
Rucinski underwent surgery for his lumbar spine with Dr. Robert Watkins Jr. in Los Angeles on Aug. 8, and will miss the rest of this season. Signed to a one-year deal this offseason after four successful seasons in the KBO from 2019-22, the 34-year-old Rucinski began the 2023 season on the injured list and struggled through four starts with the A's once healthy enough to pitch, posting a 9.00 ERA in 18 innings.

"For a player who gets his opportunity to come back to pitch in the big leagues, I can’t imagine what he’s going through," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "I know he’s disappointed and feels like he probably let the team down, but in no way did he do that. Physical injuries take a toll on you as an individual. They really wear on you mentally.

"I know it’s been wearing on him for a while. I don’t think he was probably ever right, physically. You commend the effort of just taking the ball and going out there as he did and trying to pitch through these injuries. It’s just unfortunate." (Last updated: Aug. 8)

RHP Zach Jackson (right flexor tendon strain)
Expected return: TBD
The A's announced that Jackson, who had begun a rehab assignment with Single-A Stockton on July 29 on his way back from a right flexor tendon strain, underwent surgery to treat acute appendicitis on July 31. The club noted that Jackson is "recovering and doing well," though there is no schedule for his possible return.

The right-hander is 2-1 with one save and a 2.50 ERA in 19 relief appearances. (Last updated: Aug. 1)

RHP Yacksel Ríos (Raynaud's Syndrome)
Expected return: Out for season
Ríos underwent a season-ending procedure on July 17 with Dr. Jason Lee at Stanford Hospital to repair an Axillary Branch Aneurysm in his right shoulder, which A's director of sports medicine and rehabilitation Brian Schulman described as a blood clot in one of the blood vessels in the back of his right shoulder that was breaking off into smaller clots and traveling down to his hand, causing his right middle and index finger to go completely numb and without sensation at times.

"This is similar to something [Yankees pitcher] David Cone had back in 1996," Schulman said of Ríos' procedure. "There have been other athletes who have gone through the same thing. The prognosis is good. They fixed the source of the problem. It just needs to heal.”

If his rehab progresses accordingly, Ríos is expected to resume playing catch later this year. (Last updated: July 18)

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