A’s infielder goes back on IL less than a week after recovering from brutal injury
When it comes to injuries, the Athletics have not had good luck as of late.
Less than a week after returning from a hand injury, A’s utility man Zack Gelof was placed back on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right knee laceration that he suffered after sliding into a fence for a highlight-reel catch the day before.
The A’s had just gotten back Gelof, who had been on a historic tear before his first injury in June, as well as All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, putting their starting lineup mostly back in place before Gelof suffered his second significant injury of the season.
Two-time All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker, starting pitcher Luis Severino and outfielder Denzel Clarke are other key A’s players still in various stages of injury recovery.
“It has been tough,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after Thursday’s loss to the Detroit Tigers, the A’s sixth in a row that dropped them to 41-52 and 5 ½ games out of a wild card playoff spot. “But we’re not gonna make excuses.”
What happened to Gelof?
Gelof was pulled from Thursday’s game immediately after suffering what Kotsay described as a “deep” laceration under his kneecap.
On the play, Gelof made a long trek from left field all the way to the wall, where he successfully slid to catch a foul ball for the first out of the inning before colliding with a corner of the wall that extends closest to the field of play.
Gelof, already on the ground, immediately grabbed his knee in pain before hobbling back to his position. After a few seconds, he went back to the ground and was pulled from the game, though he was able to walk off the field under his own power.
“It’s just another unfortunate injury for him,” Kotsay said. “It was an incredible play, unfortunate that the injury occurred while making it.”
Gelof’s first injury this season, a right hand laceration that sidelined him from June 25 to July 4, was also an unlucky incident on defense.
While playing second base, Gelof’s hand was stepped on and punctured by San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman’s cleat while he was running the bases, forcing Gelof to leave the game with blood visible on TV broadcasts.
Notably, the injury snapped Gelof’s historic 24-game hitting streak, which was one shy of the A’s expansion era club record.
Overall, Gelof, 26, has been one of the A’s most productive hitters this season after rough 2024 and 2025 campaigns, holding an .802 OPS with 11 home runs, 11 doubles and a decrease in strikeouts after he led the American League in strikeouts in 2024. In his five games since returning from injury Saturday, Gelof had three hits, including a double.
Who took Gelof’s spot on the roster?
To take Gelof’s place on the active roster, the A’s recalled slugger Joey Meneses, who is known for his hitting against left-handed pitching.
Meneses, 34, was first called up this season when Gelof was last placed on the IL in June, but was sent back down when Gelof was recalled Saturday.
After making his MLB debut at 30, Meneses had two productive seasons with the Washington Nationals in 2022 and 2023. He struggled in 2024 and did not appear in an MLB game in 2025, making his return with the A’s this season.
Meneses struggled in seven games with the A’s this season, hitting .143 with zero extra-base hits in 14 at-bats. In Triple-A, however, he has been mashing, holding an OPS over .900 with 12 home runs and 21 doubles.
Though Gelof had been playing left field in his return from injury, to make room for top prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer in the lineup, it is unlikely Meneses will fill that role since he is primarily a first baseman or DH.
On Friday, Meneses was set to hit sixth and play first base with Lawrence Butler, Henry Bolte and Soderstrom playing outfield. Jeff McNeil was set to start at second base, next to Kuroda-Grauer at third and Wilson at shortstop. Alika Williams may also see playing time in the infield with Gelof out as another utility option at Kotsay’s disposal.
