A’s Infielder Kuroda‑Grauer Goes on IL After Emergency Surgery

Injury timeline and procedure

Joshua Kuroda‑Grauer took the hill for the Athletics on Monday, July 20, and felt a sharp blow when a pitch ricocheted off his groin in the fifth inning. He writhed in pain, was examined quickly, and managed to stay at the plate for a single in the same at‑bat before being pulled from the game. The Athletics later announced he would leave with a ruptured testicle and would need emergency surgery. The operation was performed at Phoenix’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Kuroda‑Grauer was recovering comfortably. The club placed the 23‑year‑old infielder on the 10‑day injured list to protect his health.

Player stats and context

At the time of the injury, Kuroda‑Grauer was hitting .404 (23 for 57) with one home run in his first 15 major‑league games. He had been called up from Triple‑A Las Vegas on June 29 and had quickly become a fixture in the A’s lineup. His batting average of .404 ranked among the league’s leaders for a rookie infielder. The premature end to his streak will disrupt his early‑season momentum and give the Athletics a spot on the injured list to fill.

Team pitching outlook

The A’s rotation will also be missing Jack Perkins as they prepare for the Diamondbacks on Monday night. Perkins, the right‑hander who posts a 2‑5 record and a 6.87 ERA, relies on a 95.9 mph fastball and secondary pitches that generate whiffs. He has struggled since moving between starter and reliever roles, posting a 5.46 ERA in 17 relief outings through May and an 8.19 ERA since June. The Diamondbacks will debut left‑handed pitcher Kohl Drake, who comes over in the Merrill Kelly trade from the Texas Rangers. Drake has been confined to Triple‑A Reno this season, posting a 6.92 ERA in 66⅓ innings, though his last six outings show a 4.70 ERA and he notched a recent relief appearance.

Upcoming game schedule

Wednesday, July 22, sees the Diamondbacks host the Athletics at Chase Field at 12:40 p.m., with Merrill Kelly (7‑8, 5.20) taking the hill against Gage Jump (3‑5, 3.78). On Thursday, July 23, the Diamondbacks travel to St. Louis for a matchup of Brandon Pfaadt (4‑1, 4.58) versus Dustin May (5‑7, 4.78). Friday, July 24, the Diamondbacks face the Nationals in Washington, with Eduardo Rodriguez (8‑3, 2.62) scheduled to oppose Zack Littell (7‑7, 5.34). Each of these contests will be pivotal as both clubs look to rebound from recent setbacks.