UDPATE: Brett Anderson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation, according to a team press release.
Earlier this afternoon, Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com reported that the Athletics fear Anderson could be “done” for the year due to the injury, but Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that Anderson may only need to miss a few starts, similar to his previous DL-stint. We’ll soon find out.
Friday, 12:44PM: Brett Anderson spent most of May on the disabled list with inflammation in his forearm and elbow, but looked plenty healthy while shutting out the Tigers for 5.2 innings last week in his return start.
Unfortunately his second outing didn’t go nearly as well yesterday, as Anderson left after 2.2 innings with tightness in his elbow and could be headed right back to the DL, calling the problem “a reoccurring of what happened last time.”
“It’s tough to tell how it is,” Anderson told Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News. “My slider just wasn’t the same. At-bats where there’s two strikes, it’s usually a put-away pitch. But I just left it over the middle.”
Anderson will be examined by doctors today while the A’s hold their collective breath that the 22-year-old southpaw hasn’t already done enough damage to require surgery. Following an impressive rookie season the A’s quickly determined that Anderson was a big part of their future and signed him to a long-term contract that could be worth up to $31 million.
Acquired from the Diamondbacks as part of the Dan Haren trade in December of 2007, Anderson has a 3.80 ERA and 174/49 K/BB ratio in 206 innings spread over 36 career starts despite being the second-youngest starter in the league.
Anthony Volpe, 21, wins Yankees’ starting shortstop job
Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sp
TAMPA, Fla. — Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.
Now, the 21-year-old is getting the chance to be the Yankees’ opening day shortstop against the San Francisco Giants.
The team announced after a 6-2 win over Toronto in spring training that Volpe had won the spot. New York manager Aaron Boone called the kid into his office to deliver the news.
“My heart was beating pretty hard,” said Volpe, rated one of baseball’s best prospects. “Incredible. I’m just so excited. It’s hard for me to even put into words.”
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also present.
Volpe was able to share the news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees’ dugout and said it is something he will never forget.
“It was pretty emotional,” Volpe said. “It was just an unbelievable moment to share with them.”
Volpe, who grew up a Yankees fan, lived in Manhattan as a child before moving to New Jersey. Jeter was his favorite player.
“It’s very surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only ever been to games at Yankee Stadium and for the most part only watched him play there.”
Volpe is hitting .314 with three homers, five RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage in 17 Grapefruit League games. He has just 22 games of experience at Triple-A.
Spring training started with Volpe, Oswald Peraza and holdover Isiah Kiner-Falefa competing for the everyday shortstop job. Kiner-Falefa was shifted into a utility role midway through camp, and Peraza was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday evening.
“While certainly the performance was there, he killed it between the lines,” Boone said of Volpe. “All the other things that we’ve been hearing about showed up. There’s an energy he plays the game with, and an instinct that he has that is evident. He really checked every box that we could have had for him. Absolutely kicked the door in and earned his opportunity.”
Volpe arrived in Florida in December to work out at the Yankees’ minor league complex.
“He’s earned the right to take that spot, and we’re excited for him and excited for us,” Cashman said. “He just dominated all sides of the ball during February and March, and that bodes well obviously for him as we move forward.”
Volpe was selected out of high school with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft from Delbarton School in New Jersey. He passed up a college commitment to Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get into the organization,” Volpe said. “This day, this feeling, this moment was kind of what I’ve worked my whole life for when I made that big decision.”
“Right now it’s crazy,” he added. “I don’t even know what lies ahead but Thursday I just want to go out and play, and have fun.”