Drew Rucinski has landed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to May 17) with a stomach illness, the A’s announced. In his place, the team has recalled right hander James Kaprielian, who is scheduled to start tomorrow’s match.
Rucinski, 34, returned to the US on a one-year, $3MM deal with a $5MM club option for next season after a successful time in Korea. It hasn’t been an enjoyable return though, as the veteran has made just four starts for Oakland, working to a 9.00 ERA. He’s struck out just 6.3% of batters and walked 14.7%, while giving up five home runs in 18 innings. It’s a disappointing return for a player who worked to a 3.05 ERA over 121 starts in four seasons in Korea.
While 15 days out seems like quite a bit for a stomach illness, it’ll at least give the A’s and Rucinski some time to work on any issues he’s been experiencing that’s led to this poor start in Oakland. He’ll be eligible to return to the team in early June.
Kaprielian’s put up similarly disappointing numbers, working to a 10.17 ERA in 23 big league innings this year. The 29-year-old former top-100 prospect has performed a lot better in a limited sample at Triple-A, giving up just a single earned run in 8 1/3 innings at the highest level of the minors.
It just has not worked out for Rucinski or Kaprelian for that matter. Who else is pitching well at the AAA for the A’s. It’s like rolling a dice with this team…
A’s MLB rotation: 2-24, 7.49 ERA in 46 starts
A’s AAA rotation: 3-11, 6.72 ERA in 43 starts
The numbers show help is not coming anytime soon
Trade Rooker and Noda for Jesus Luzardo, both teams benefit.
That would be an outstanding turn of events!
Anyone ever want to point out Scott Emerson has a job despite never having success?
Would sure LOVE to know why his incompetence is so tolerated…
Rucinski’s velo is also down 2 MPH from the 92 he averaged last year in the KBO. I’m thinking he has something else wrong with his health than just the stomach illness