Athletics' Luis Medina: Mediocre performance in defeat
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Medina (0-2) took the loss against Minnesota on Thursday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.
Medina had much better control after issuing five walks across 4.2 frames in his previous start, but his overall stat line wasn't significantly improved. The right-hander took his second straight loss Thursday, giving up a season-high eight hits while striking out just three batters. Medina looked great in his first start of the campaign June 2 against Atlanta with no earned runs allowed over 5.2 innings, but he's yielded 10 earned runs across 9.2 frames since.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Can't find plate in loss
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Medina (0-1) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs on five hits and five walks over 4.2 innings as the A's fell 7-0 to the Blue Jays. He struck out one.
The right-hander had no margin for error with Kevin Gausman tossing a complete-game shutout for Toronto, but Medina had trouble finding the plate all afternoon, walking the bases loaded in the first inning to set up the Jays' first run and finally exiting having thrown only 45 of 84 pitches for strikes. Through his first two starts for Oakland this season, Medina has a 7:7 K:BB in 10.1 innings, but the team's lack of healthy arms should keep him in the rotation for now. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Minnesota.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Excellent in debut
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Medina didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Atlanta, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks across 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
Medina didn't show any signs of rust in his first big-league start since 2023, yielding just two hits to Atlanta in almost six innings of work. He threw 89 pitches and didn't seem to have any limitations after missing the first two months of the campaign due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain. The lone run scored during Medina's time on the mound came in the first, when Marcell Ozuna advanced to second base on a passed ball before scoring via a Matt Olson single. The 24-year-old is lined up for a start during Oakland's three-game home series against the Blue Jays next weekend.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Reinstated for Sunday's start
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Oakland activated Medina (knee) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start in Sunday's game in Atlanta.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined for the first two months of 2024 due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee, but he's ready to make his season debut Sunday in Atlanta. Medina built up to 72 pitches in his final rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and could face some workload limitations in his first outing or two in the big leagues. The right-hander posted a 5.42 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 106:57 K:BB across 109.2 innings as a rookie in 2023.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Expected to start Sunday
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Medina (knee) is slated to return from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's series finale with Atlanta, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Medina has missed the entirety of the 2024 campaign to this point while recovering from a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered March 4 at spring training. The 25-year-old made three starts during his minor-league rehab assignment, with the last two coming at Triple-A Las Vegas. In his final outing at Triple-A on Tuesday, Medina tossed 3.2 innings (72 pitches) while striking out six and giving up two earned runs on four hits and two walks. While he shouldn't face many limitations from a workload standpoint in his 2024 MLB debut, Medina isn't a recommended streaming option in a road game against one of baseball's top teams.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Back with team, activation imminent
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Medina (knee) returned to the Athletics following his latest rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and could be activated during this weekend's series with Atlanta, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has plunked four batters and pitched to plenty of contact on his rehab assignment, allowing 14 hits over eight innings, but Medina topped out at 100.2 mph and averaged 97 mph with his fastball in his Tuesday start. He then proceeded to throw a bullpen session prior to Thursday's extra-innings loss to the Rays, setting him up for activation at some point this weekend. Whether Medina will immediately slot into an injury-riddled Athletics rotation remains to be seen.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Improves in latest rehab start
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Medina (knee) allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sugar Land on Tuesday. He struck out six and also hit two batters.
As his final line indicates, Medina's performance, which also included a balk, was a mixed bag, but it actually represented quite an improvement over his first two minor-league rehab outings. The right-hander worked up to 72 pitches, and both his innings pitched and strikeouts were new high-water marks for him during his rehab assignment. Medina may finally be starting to knock off some rust, but he'll likely be due for at least two more outings with the Aviators before activation is considered.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Lit up in Vegas rehab start
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Medina (knee) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Tacoma on Wednesday, allowing five earned runs on four hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batsman over 2.1 innings. He struck out one.
Medina moved up from the Athletics' rookie-level AZL club after opening his rehab assignment there May 15, and as his line indicates, the results were far from encouraging. Medina had a similarly difficult time in his first rehab start against a much lower caliber of competition, so it's clear he has plenty of kinks to work out before a move to the big-league club can be considered. Given Wednesday's results, it remains to be seen if Medina will be shifted to a lower-level affiliate for his next rehab appearance in an effort to allow him to build some confidence and positive momentum.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Struggles in rookie ball start
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Medina (knee) began a rehab assignment Wednesday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and was charged with six earned runs on six hits and zero walks while striking out three over two innings.
Though Medina didn't issue a walk in the first start of his rehab assignment, he didn't necessarily exhibit strong control, as he tossed two wild pitches and hit one of the 13 batters he faced. Some rustiness was to be expected from Medina, who hadn't pitched in a competitive setting since his March 4 Cactus League start before he went down with a Grade 2 MCL sprain of his right knee. He'll likely need three or four rehab starts to get fully stretched out, so he shouldn't be viewed as a realistic candidate to return from the 60-day injured list and join the Oakland rotation until around early-to-mid June.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Set for 45-pitch sim game
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Medina (knee) is scheduled to throw around 45 pitches Wednesday in a simulated game at extended spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The upcoming sim game will likely represent the final hurdle for Medina to clear in his recovery from a Grade 2 MCL sprain before he heads out on what will likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment. With injuries mounting in the Oakland rotation, Medina should have a starting role with the big club waiting for him once he gets fully stretched out in the minors.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Live BP session goes well
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Medina (knee) faced hitters during a 20-pitch live bullpen session at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday and came away feeling good, MLB.com reports.
It's another step in the right direction for Medina, who's now slated to head to the Athletics' minor-league complex in Arizona to throw a simulated game Friday. If that also goes off without a hitch, Medina is projected to begin a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Slated for Tuesday bullpen
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Medina (knee) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Medina is on track to toss another side session Tuesday, and if all goes well, he could be given the green light to face live hitters later in the week. While the right-hander continues to trend in the right direction, the team has yet to disclose when he could be sent out on a rehab assignment.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Gets in throwing Tuesday
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Medina (knee) threw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
Medina's long recovery from a Grade 2 MCL sprain appears to be picking up steam in earnest. The right-hander is slated for multiple bullpen sessions during the current road trip, and if those go off without setbacks, he'll pitch to hitters in a simulated game at some point next week, per MLB.com.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Getting close to rehab games
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Medina (knee) is on track to begin a rehab assignment next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Medina is with Oakland on its road trip and is set to throw four bullpen sessions before going out on a rehab assignment. The right-hander is working his way back from the Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered back in early March. Medina is on the 60-day injured list and thus isn't eligible for activation until late May. It will take time for him to be built back up as a starter, so he likely wouldn't be available before then, anyway.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Starts running program
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Medina (knee) has started a running program, the Associated Press reports.
Medina was just transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday as he continues a deliberate recovery from a Grade 2 MCL sprain he was originally diagnosed with in early March. While the right-hander still appears to be some time away from even progressing to bullpen sessions, he could certainly begin accelerating his rehabilitation process if he's able to carry out the running program without any setbacks.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Lands on 15-day injured list
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The Athletics placed Medina (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Medina suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain to his right knee in early March during a Cactus League appearance. According to MLB.com, Medina has been able to play catch from his knees recently, and he'll progress to playing catch while standing up once the soreness in his knee subsides. He's still without a clear timetable for making his 2024 debut.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Playing catch, but limited
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Medina (knee) has begun playing catch but is doing so on one knee, per manager Mark Kotsay, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
Kotsay added that the right-hander is still "a ways away" in his recovery. Medina suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee on March 4 against the Reds, an injury that scuttled his chances of earning a spot in the starting rotation to open the season.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Using crutches after knee sprain
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Medina (knee) was getting around on crutches in the Athletics' clubhouse Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Medina had to depart Monday's appearance against the Reds due to a right knee sprain, and while there's no word yet on how long he'll be sidelined, it would appear the absence could be a lengthy one. The 24-year-old was competing for a spot in the Athletics' rotation.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Diagnosed with Grade 2 MCL sprain
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Wednesday that Medina has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain of the MCL in his right knee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Medina suffered the injury during Monday's Cactus League appearance against the Reds. Kotsay declined to offer a timetable for the right-hander's return other than noting that Medina won't be ready for the start of the season. Medina had been competing for a spot in Oakland's rotation but now could be facing a fairly lengthy absence.
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Athletics' Luis Medina: Exits game with knee sprain
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Medina left Monday's Cactus League game against the Reds due to a right knee sprain, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Medina allowed one run on no hits and one walk over 1.1 innings while striking out three before leaving the game. The status for his next start is up in the air while the team monitors how he recovers over the next few days. The right-hander entered spring training gunning for a spot in the Athletics' rotation. Medina had a 3-10 record over 17 starts with a 5.42 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 106:57 K:BB over 109.2 innings in 2023, his first season in the majors.
