SEATTLE -– Eric Sogard will begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday with Single-A Stockton, as the A’s infielder continues to work his way back from a strained neck.
The plan is for Sogard to return to Oakland on Tuesday to get checked out by the A’s staff, and he’s likely to then continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville.
Whether Sogard fits into the A’s Major League plans when he’s ready to be activated from the disabled list remains to be seen. He has minor league options remaining, so he could stay with Nashville when he comes off the D.L.
In other injury news, right-hander Henderson Alvarez had his next simulated game pushed back a day to Monday for precautionary measures. There was bad weather in Stockton on Saturday, and the A’s didn’t want Alvarez pitching in poor field conditions Sunday.
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All the time that the A’s spend with pitchers’ fielding practice during spring training couldn’t prepare Marc Rzepczynski for his play in the ninth inning Saturday. On a terrific play by all involved, second baseman Jed Lowrie ranged to his left to get Ketel Marte’s grounder and made a spinning throw to first. Yonder Alonso made a diving attempt at the grounder but couldn’t’ get it, so Rzepczynski had to hustle over to cover first. He caught Lowrie’s throw but wound up doing the splits and keeping his foot on the bag.
“There were bodies falling all over the place,” A’s closer Sean Doolittle said. “Incredible concentration and body control” by Rzepczynski.
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Afterward, manager Bob Melvin joked that he wanted Rzepczynski to make the highlight shows afterward. That made Rzepczynski chuckle.
“More times than not, I’m usually on the other end giving up a home run,” he said.
Actually, the toughest part of the play came afterward when Rzepczynski required some assistance from the training staff. He wasn’t hurt, he just had dirt caked on his hand and needed something to wipe it all off.
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Coco Crisp received his second consecutive start in center field Sunday over Billy Burns after Crisp stole two bases and scored twice from the leadoff spot in Saturday’s win.
“This allows us to keep both of them hopefully fresh,” Melvin said. “That’s the best we’ve seen Coco look in a year-plus.”
