OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -The Oakland Athletics’ injury-depleted outfield lost another player Wednesday when the club placed Chris Snelling on the 15-day disabled list with a deep bone bruise in his left knee.
The move is retroactive to May 11, and the A’s called up outfielder Hiram Bocachica from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Snelling’s roster spot and put him in the starting lineup in center field against the Kansas City Royals.
Oakland traded for Snelling on May 2 in a swap with the Washington Nationals. He batted .350 in six games for the A’s before the latest of his bad luck with injuries. This is his eighth career stint on the DL and he had two stints in each of the previous two seasons.
“That’s been the story of my career,” said Snelling, whose DL stint is the 10th needed by the defending AL West champions already in 2007.
Bocachica returned to Sacramento with the River Cats from Iowa earlier Wednesday, then made the nearly two-hour drive to the Bay Area. The A’s like his power, arm strength and speed – despite his up-and-down history with the organization.
Bocachica was on the 40-man roster before spring training, designated for assignment Feb. 14 before starting camp and released Feb. 22. He signed a minor league deal Feb. 28, then batted .111 with one RBI in 20 exhibition games.
“He’s had some bad luck,” manager Bob Geren said. “He was hit by a pitch one year, roster situations. He’s here now and will get a chance to show what he can do. I look forward to watching him. He’s showed some flashes of all the skills, really.”
Bocachica hit .313 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs in 35 games for Sacramento and was tied for the Pacific Coast League lead in extra-base hits with 21.
Oakland has dealt with injuries to every one of its projected opening-day outfielders except for Shannon Stewart, who has been a steady influence in left field and the leadoff spot.
“Hopefully it’s a good thing,” Bocachica said of joining the A’s again. “I know all the guys are pretty banged up. Hopefully they’ll get healthy. I will be here and do whatever I can to help the team.”
Injured center fielder Mark Kotsay, recovering from lower back surgery in early March, played four innings in the field and went 2-for-4 in an extended spring training game Wednesday in Phoenix.
Kotsay’s replacement in center, Milton Bradley, missed his second straight game with a tender left hamstring that landed him on the DL from April 23 to May 11. Also, outfielder Travis Buck was scheduled to have his sore wrist examined.
Injured closer Huston Street was seen by Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Wednesday in Los Angeles and he determined the pitcher had no structural damage in his right elbow. Street went on the DL on Tuesday with an irritated nerve in that area of his throwing arm.
Right-handed starter Esteban Loaiza, recovering from a bulging disk in his neck, was set to have an MRI exam Thursday, and righty reliever Justin Duchscherer was to have his sore right hip checked by Dr. John Frazier.
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