KANSAS CITY -- A rash of injuries has tested the depth of the Athletics all season, and that has continued with 2025 All-Star Jacob Wilson, who was not in the lineup for the third straight game Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium as he deals with left shoulder soreness.
Wilson has also been dealing with a sore left pinkie finger after he was hit on the hand on Friday against the Rangers, causing him to exit the game early and miss Saturday's contest before returning for Sunday's finale.
The A's shortstop has been dealing with the shoulder injury since the team was in Baltimore from May 8-10, but after an IL stint, he has recently played through it to hit .266 with seven homers, 16 doubles and 37 RBIs in 80 games this season.
"Again, it's day to day. We are trying to make improvement," manager Mark Kotsay said of Wilson. "It is the shoulder that is the issue right now. We are doing treatment daily to try and get him at a place where he feels comfortable to get back out there. This is day four basically, so we will have to do a pretty good assessment by tomorrow or the weekend."
That assessment could end in a trip to the injured list if Wilson is still unable to play. The 24-year-old tried to hit during batting practice on Monday but couldn't get to his full range of motion in his shoulder while swinging. Since then, he hasn't taken part in baseball activities.
"There's no swinging, no throwing," Kotsay said. "His availability off the bench is to be able to pinch-run late in the game."
The A's have turned to Darell Hernaiz, Alika Williams and Donovan Walton at shortstop in the three games during Wilson's absence. Walton, who is batting .273 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 59 games between the Angels and A's this season, got the start Wednesday, batting eighth.
The ailments have kept on coming to key players such as Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom during this rough stretch for the A's, who have lost the first two games in Kansas City.
The club did get good news on the injury front Wednesday, though, as it activated left-hander Jeffrey Springs from the injured list to start the penultimate game of the series. Springs is 3-11 with a 6.17 ERA across 22 starts this season entering his start against the Royals. As a corresponding move, the A's optioned righty Seth Johnson to Triple-A Las Vegas.