Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday. According to his Twitter account, the surgery was considered successful.
Surgery was a success. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Enough about me… Kick Baltimores Ass! I’ll be ?
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) May 6, 2016
Bassitt was drafted by the White Sox in the 16th round in 2011. After the 2014 season, he was traded to Oakland along with shortstop Marcus Semien in the deal that sent Jeff Samardzija to Chicago. The 27-year-old was 0-2 this season with a 6.11 ERA.
Oakland’s rotation hasn’t seen many sure things, even with ace Sonny Gray and lefty Rich Hill at the top. Gray is 3-3 on the season and coming off an outing against the Seattle Mariners in which he game up seven earned runs and two homers. Hill is also 3-3, but is boasting a 2.53 ERA. Both are averaging just under six innings per start.
The call up of rookie lefthander Sean Manaea may be a look into the future, but not without its own set of speed bumps. Manaea, who was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 48 prospect in baseball coming into 2016, was acquired from the Kansas City Royals last season for super utility man Ben Zobrist. The 24-year-old has allowed eight runs over 10 innings in two starts so far this season.
Help does seem to be right around the corner. Henderson Alvarez, who signed a one-year deal with the team in December, has made four rehab starts between High A Stockton and AAA Nashville and could be with the big club sooner, rather than later. Alvarez is 27-34 with a 3.80 ERA in five Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins. His best season came in 2014 with Miami as he finished with a 12-7 record and a 2.65 ERA.
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