Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Athletics activated Waldichuk (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery last May and had spent all season on the injured list up to this point. He kicked off a minor-league rehab assignment in late June and tallied a 7.63 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 17:16 K:BB over 15.1 innings spanning six appearances between Single-A Stockton and Las Vegas. The lefty threw 141 frames for the Athletics in 2023 and could certainly make his way back to the big club in due time, but he'll likely first need to harness his control issues in the minors before getting a look in the MLB rotation.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Reaches third inning in rehab start
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Waldichuk (elbow) gave up two runs (one earned) on one hit and two walks while striking out one batter over 2.1 innings in his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Las Vegas.
After tossing three shutout innings in his first rehab outing with Single-A Stockton on June 22, Waldichuk moved up to Triple-A for his second appearance. Though he wasn't nearly as efficient Saturday as he had been in his previous outing, Waldichuk pushed up his pitch count from 42 to 51. The Athletics appear prepared to let Waldichuk get stretched out for a starting role during his rehab assignment, but his performance will likely determine whether he enters the big-league rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. Waldichuk has been on the shelf all season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last May.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Set for another rehab start
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Waldichuk (elbow) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while hitting a batter and striking out four in a rehab start with Single-A Stockton on Sunday. He will now shift his minor-league rehab assignment to Las Vegas as he reaches the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which took place in May 2024. Waldichuk last pitched with the Athletics in 2023, posting a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 141 innings in 35 appearances, including 22 starts.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Throws live BP session
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw a live batting practice session at the Athletics' spring training complex Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk's throwing session consisted entirely of fastballs and changeups, so he'll still need to throw breaking pitches against hitters before the Athletics clear him for a rehab assignment. The southpaw is bouncing back from May 2024 Tommy John surgery and isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until July.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Bullpen session on tap
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday.
Waldichuk is expected to mix in fastballs and changeups during his upcoming mound session. He's been throwing bullpens since early March as the most recent step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and it's still unclear when he might be cleared to face live hitters.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2024, Waldichuk isn't expected to rejoin the Athletics until closer to midseason. The 27-year-old southpaw began throwing bullpen sessions in early March, but it will take a while for him to build to a starter's workload, if that's the role the A's have planned for him.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Cleared for bullpen progression
Rotowire
The Athletics announced Tuesday that Waldichuk (elbow) has been cleared to begin a bullpen progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
A little under 10 months removed from the Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure he underwent May 15, 2024, Waldichuk is now ready to resume mound work. Per Gallegos, the Athletics estimated that Waldichuk would require around 13 months of recovery time from surgery, so he could be ready to contribute for the big club at some point in late June or July. Presumably, the Athletics' initial plan is to have Waldichuk get stretched out as a starter during his rehab program, though he could be deployed as a reliever if the team is satisfied with its rotation options by the time he's ready to return from the injured list.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk was initially diagnosed with a UCL tear last October. He opted for a minor procedure on his elbow last fall in hopes of avoiding the surgery he eventually had Wednesday. The left-hander figures to be sidelined until around midseason of 2025.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Another good bullpen Friday
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) threw between 20 and 25 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, the Associated Press reports.
It's the second bullpen session for Waldichuk this week, as the left-hander continues a deliberate throwing program. Waldichuk could be deemed ready to face live hitters after Friday's session, although how he recovers over the weekend from the activity will likely be the determining factor in whether he progresses to the next step.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Encouraging bullpen Monday
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday that went off without any setbacks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
Manager Mark Kotsay remarked that "so far everything is going in the right direction for Kenny," adding the left-hander continues to feel good during his ramp-up process. While Waldichuk continues without a timetable for return, he may only need another bullpen session or two before progressing to facing live hitters.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Opens season on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Though Waldichuk has been cleared to play catch at the outset of spring training, he'll need at least two months to complete his throwing progression and get stretched out over a multi-start rehab assignment before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for Oakland. The southpaw was shut down for most of the offseason after he underwent surgery in October to address a UCL sprain as well as flexor tendon damage in his throwing arm.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Likely to miss start of season
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) likely won't be ready for the start of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk underwent surgery in October to repair the damage done to his left UCL and flexor during his final start of 2023. Athletics general manager David Forst didn't offer a timeline for Waldichuk's return during Friday's call with reporters, so it remains unclear when the 26-year-old southpaw will be able to return to Oakland's rotation. Last year, Waldichuk put up a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 141 innings -- his highest workload in a season since he was drafted in 2019.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Turns in quality start
Rotowire
Waldichuk (4-8) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win over the Tigers on Friday.
Waldichuk has two quality starts over four outings in September, and he also pitched six no-hit innings as a bulk reliever versus the Astros on Sept. 11. He's found some consistency with strong performances this month, lowering his ERA for the year to 5.29 with a 1.54 WHIP and 129:68 K:BB through 136 innings over 34 outings (21 starts). Waldichuk is likely set for one more appearance this season, which is tentatively scheduled to come on the road in Minnesota.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Slated to start Friday
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Waldichuk is listed as the Athletics' starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Tigers in Oakland, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
In his most recent outing this past Sunday against the Padres, Waldichuik worked in tandem with starter Joe Boyle, with the former covering four innings to the latter's three. Both pitchers look as though they'll be part of the rotation against Detroit this weekend, as Boyle is listed as Oakland's starting pitcher for Saturday. The Athletics could change course and deploy an opening pitcher in front of Waldichuk, but either way, the 25-year-old southpaw is slated to cover the bulk of the innings Friday.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Serving as primary pitcher Sunday
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Waldichuk, who was originally slated for a conventional start Sunday against the Padres, will now serve as the primary pitcher behind opener Joe Boyle, who is expected to be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk served as a bulk reliever in his most recent appearance last Sunday against the Astros and turned in a gem, spinning a six-inning no-hit effort. The left-hander hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in an appearance of any kind since Aug. 1, generating a 1-0 record and 1.91 ERA over the 37.2 innings covering his subsequent seven outings. Given that Waldichuk is fully stretched out for a starter's workload, he could end up getting 5-to-6 innings Sunday, depending on how long Boyle stays in the game.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Holds Astros hitless for six frames
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Waldichuk (3-7) earned the win as Oakland's primary pitcher Monday, allowing one walk and striking out three batters over six scoreless and hitless innings against Houston.
Mason Miller worked as the Athletics' opener and held the Astros scoreless while tossing 45 pitches over two frames. Waldichuk followed and was even more impressive, allowing just two baserunners -- one on a hit-by-pitch and the other on a walk -- across six sterling innings. The southpaw didn't get credited with a quality start since he entered in the third frame, but he did nab his first victory since July 5. Waldichuk has been making a strong impression of late, allowing just one run over his past three outings covering 16 innings. He's posted a poor 9:9 K:BB but has given up just six hits over that stretch.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Solid in no-decision
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Waldichuk allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Waldichuk held his own, but the Athletics' bullpen couldn't do the same in a seventh-inning collapse. This was his first scoreless effort since June 29, and Waldichuk had allowed eight runs over 14.2 innings across his three previous outings. The southpaw is at a 5.63 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 117:67 K:BB through 120 innings across 31 appearances (20 starts) this season. He's projected for a difficult road start in Houston early next week.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Solid in no-decision
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Waldichuk did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing a run on seven hits and a walk over five innings in an 8-7 loss against Washington. He struck out four.
Waldichuk pitched well Sunday, allowing just one run in the opening inning before blanking Washington over his final four frames. However, the A's bullpen imploded in the ninth, allowing six runs to blow a 7-2 lead and leave Waldichuk with a no-decision. The 25-year-old southpaw has held opponents to two runs or fewer in three of his last four starts, though he still sports an unsightly 6.07 ERA with a 1.70 WHIP and 51:24 K:BB across 48.2 innings this season.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Struggles with control Wednesday
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Waldichuk didn't factor into the decision against the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing four earned runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Waldichuk worked up to 90 pitches despite not making it out of the fifth inning, as only 50 of his offerings found the strike zone. The left-hander started off on the wrong foot when he surrendered a two-run home run to Justin Turner in the first inning, and after holding Boston off the board for the next three frames, Waldichuk was chased after surrendering an RBI single to Rob Refsnyder in the fifth. The 25-year-old will be looking to reverse what is now a two-start rough patch the next time he takes the hill, as Waldichuk has pitched to a 7.88 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across the eight innings covering that pair of outings, albeit while also recording 10 strikeouts.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Registers no-decision
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Waldichuk didn't factor into the decision Friday's 5-4 loss to the Twins after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings.
Waldichuk turned in yet another mediocre outing and is now sitting on a 6.66 ERA and 1.84 WHIP for the season. The southpaw isn't a usable fantasy option in most leagues at this stage, and barring a major turnaround in form, he'll likely remain off the radar even if he continues to hold down a starting role.
