Injury update: Marlins, D-Backs, Athletics, Phillies all hit since trade deadline
Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Punto hasn’t had the best season offensively for the Oakland Athletics who have the best record in baseball at 67-43. His slash line going into Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals was a measly 207/.300/.279 in 64 games this season.
He is, however, part of a platoon with Eric Sogard at second base. With Sogard also struggling the loss of Punto makes the A’s only real weakness go from a small hole at second base into a gaping one.
Punto strained his right hamstring Saturday while rounding third on a Jed Lowrie RBI single in the fifth inning. According to the San Francisco Chronices’s Susan Slusser, Punto was placed on the DL Saturday and the A’s recalled first baseman Nate Freiman from Triple-A Sacramento.
Nate Freiman, scratched from @RiverCats lineup last night, recalled by #Athletics with Punto on DL.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) August 3, 2014
For now second base for the Athletics will be manned by Sogard and switch hitter Alberto Callaspo. The Athletics have been talking to Scott Sizemore about joining the team to help out with the position. Another option for the A’s is to bring up Andy Parrino from Sacramento. Parrino has been with the team twice over the 2014 season and has performed well.