The Athletics have placed right-handed reliever J.B. Wendelken on the injured list and recalled righty James Kaprielian, per a team announcement. The club didn’t provide a reason for Wendelken’s IL placement, nor will it announce why it sent him to the IL, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
If Wendelken ends up missing an extended period, it would be a tough blow to the AL West champion A’s bullpen as they head into the postseason. After all, Wendelken has joined Liam Hendriks, Jake Diekman, Joakim Soria, Yusmeiro Petit and Jordan Weems, among others, to form an outstanding Oakland relief corps this year.
Now 27 years old, Wendelken has been a highly effective member of Oakland’s bullpen since 2017. He has given Oakland 25 innings of 1.80 ERA/3.06 FIP ball with 11.16 K/9, 3.96 BB/9 and a 46 percent groundball rate in 2020.
He’s the last piece of the Donaldson trade, technically. They got him for Brett Lawrie.
In that same sense you can count La Stella then
It’s yet another tough blow for the talented young A’s. Now it is James Kaprielian’s time to show that increíble talent and heated repertoire…
I think Jordan weems steps up, great stuff although in low leverage situations. I don’t trust Lou trivino at all, he’s one of those great arm relievers but cant quite put it together. I worry about age and innings catching up with soria and petit. I actually hated the deikman contract but he’s been great, but his bouts with walks and throwing strikes are his downfall. Unless it’s for end of season filler innings, I don’t see any pitcher they call up in meaningful, high leverage situations.
Would love to see the A’s sign Terry Steinbach and give him a few innings before the season is over just as a “thank you”
Is this a bot that picks a random former player name or something?
Funny thing when I was a kid. I went to a game. The A’s took a picture of me with a catchers mask on, then later mailed it to me signed by Steinbach. It said thanks for attending attached is a photo signed by A’s pitcher Terry Steinbach. Maybe they knew something back then.
Saw Wendelken pitch recently and he had some really bad umpiring behind the plate. Just awful. Ruined his outing. I used to oppose the electronic strike zone but over the last 2 seasons I’m convinced human umps are not capable of properly calling balls and strikes. Worse… umpires have their ‘own’ strike zone. As a group, the umps are consistent at being inconsistent. Really ruins the game for me. I most assuredly could not do better for sure, but a new way is needed.