Rucinski (back) had his $5 million team option for 2024 declined by the A's, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reports.
Rucinski underwent lumbar spine surgery in August and is expected to miss part of the 2024 campaign, although a specific timeline for his return isn't clear. Given his 9.00 ERA and 6:14 K:BB over 18 innings in 2023, along with ample time missed with knee issues, Rucinski's option probably wasn't going to be exercised even if he had been healthy.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Undergoes lumbar surgery
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Rucinski (knee/back) underwent lumbar spine surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the team's official site reports.
Already ruled out for the season back in mid-July, Rucinski took the first official step toward a return to full health with Tuesday's procedure. The right-hander's offseason figures to be dominated by recovery and rehabilitation, and it remains to be seen how quickly he bounces back given he'll turn 35 in late December. Rucinski's return stateside after four successful seasons overseas in the KBO was a disappointment, as he also sustained a left knee injury and pitched to a 9.00 ERA and 2.28 WHIP across his four starts for the Athletics.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Done for season
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Rucinski (knee/back) is set to undergo season-ending back surgery, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Rucinski was already on the 60-day injured list with a multitude of ailments including a left knee injury and he'll now see his 2023 campaign come to a premature ending. The right-hander will finish the season with a 9.00 ERA and 2.28 WHIP with six strikeouts over 18 innings in four starts with the Athletics.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Receiving MRI on hip and back
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Rucinski will get an MRI on his left hip and lower back after reports showed degenerative changes, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Rucinski was originally placed on the injured list with a stomach issue, and he then suffered a low-grade MCL in his right knee. It now appears matters have gotten progressively worse for the right-hander. Rucinski isn't eligible to come off the 60-day injured IL until after the All-Star break, but a clearer timeline should be announced after the results of the MRI are made public.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Placed on 15-day IL
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Rucinski was placed on the 15-day injured list with a stomach illness Saturday.
The move was made retroactive to Wednesday (May 17), so the right-hander is eligible to return June 1, though the A's are off that day. In his absence, James Kaprielian was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas and will start Sunday against the Astros.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Bumped back in rotation
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Rucinski is no longer lined up to start Sunday's game in Houston and is instead expected to take the hill Monday in Seattle, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Oakland will use Thursday's off day to reshuffle the rotation, with Kyle Muller moving ahead of Rucinski in the pitching order to stick on a four-day rest schedule between starts. As a result of the change, Rucinski will miss out on a two-start week, though it's unlikely many fantasy managers were including him in lineups after he's gone 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA, 2.28 WHIP and 6:14 K:BB in 18 innings through his first four outings. Though he's tentatively in line to get the start Monday in Seattle, Rucinski could be the odd man out of the rotation as soon as Paul Blackburn (finger) is cleared to return from the 15-day injured list.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Falls to 0-4
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Rucinski (0-4) was the pitcher of record in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Diamondbacks after allowing five earned runs on six hits and five walks over 3.2 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.
Most of the damage against Rucinski came via the long ball, as Geraldo Perdomo and Lourdes Gurriel each ripped two-run homers against him. Rucinski continues to struggle with his command and he's now sporting an ugly 6:14 K:BB through 18 innings. His ERA jumped to 9.00 and he's given up at least five runs in each of his four MLB starts this season. Rucinski is currently lined up for a tough matchup in Houston this weekend.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Roughed up by Yankees
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Rucinski (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks over five innings in a 10-5 loss to the Yankees. He struck out two.
Though Rucinski managed to make it through the first two innings without a blemish, he could not bring the early success into the third, walking Jose Trevino and Aaron Hicks to open up what would become a five-run inning. Despite the rough frame, Rucinski did not allow a single extra-base hit, instead giving up four singles, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly. The rest of the damage came in the seventh, when Gleyber Torres launched a two-run homer that plated Anthony Rizzo. Rucinski picked up his third loss in as many starts, dropping his ERA on the season to 8.16. Considering Rucinski has struck out just six batters in 14.1 innings, the right-hander should remain firmly out of fantasy consideration.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Struggles again Thursday
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Rucinski (0-2) allowed five runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Mariners.
Rucinski opened with a pair of scoreless innings, but Taylor Trammell hit a two-run home run off the right-hander in the third. Rucinski then created a mess and allowed three runs in the fourth. The 34-year-old had a hamstring injury to start the season, and he hasn't shown much in his first two starts with a 7.71 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 4:6 K:BB through 9.1 innings. If he gets another turn in the rotation, he's tentatively projected for a road start versus the Yankees next week.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Awarded another start
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Rucinski is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Mariners at Oakland Coliseum, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
After returning last week from a season-opening stint on the 15-day injured list, Rucinski stepped into the rotation for his Oakland debut and his first MLB appearance since 2018. Though Rucinski gave the team 5.2 innings in his start against the Reds, he was lit up for five runs (three earned) on 11 hits and one walk while striking out one. Rucinski's results weren't anything to get excited about, but the one-year, $3 million deal he received over the winter after spending the previous four seasons pitching in the Korea Baseball Organization represents some level of commitment from the penny-pinching Athletics. Expect the 34-year-old to continue picking up starts, especially while the team is lacking in appealing alternatives to replace him in the rotation.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Takes loss in return to MLB
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Rucinski (0-1) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on 11 hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against Cincinnati. He struck out one.
This was Rucinski's first start in MLB after pitching in Korea the past four years, and he totaled just five swinging strikes against Cincinnati. The right-hander is also coming off a hamstring injury, so it might be a while before he's fully back up to speed. The 34-year-old is tentatively slated to face the Mariners in his next start.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Activated for OAK debut
Rotowire
Rucinski (hamstring) was activated from the injured list and will make his A's debut Friday versus the Reds.
Rucinski missed the first four weeks of the 2023 regular season after suffering a left hamstring strain toward the end of spring training, but he's ready to rock now following a three-start minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas. The 34-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $3 million contract with Oakland over the winter coming off a 2.97 ERA and 194:34 K:BB in 193.2 innings (31 starts) last year with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Bounces back in latest rehab
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Rucinski (hamstring) fired 5.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sugar Land on Sunday.
Rucinski worked up to 72 pitches after tossing 62 in his previous rehab start, a fairly disastrous 2.2-inning stint where he allowed seven runs (five earned). The veteran right-hander's ability to bounce back impressively Sunday in what was his third minor-league outing overall could be enough to earn him activation, with a decision on that front likely in coming days.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Roughed up in second rehab start
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Rucinski (hamstring) was tagged for seven runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out two across 2.2 innings in his second rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Rucinski built up his pitch count to 62 after tossing 45 pitches in his first rehab start April 12, but that was about the only positive takeaway in his second outing with Las Vegas. The right-hander threw only 35 of his pitches for strikes and retired only eight of the 17 batters he faced on the day. Despite his lackluster results through two rehab outings, Rucinski could still have a starting spot in Oakland waiting for him once he's activated from the 15-day injured list, given the low barrier for entry into the big-league rotation. He'll first make a third rehab start for Las Vegas on Sunday before the Athletics determine his next step.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Rehab assignment set
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Rucinski (hamstring) threw a 40-pitch side session Saturday and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, the team's official site reports.
The 32-year-old will be ticketed for approximately three innings and 45 pitches in his first rehab outing. If all continues without setbacks, Rucinski projects to make a late-April season debut.
Rucinski (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
If all goes smoothly during the workout, Rucinski will advance to a minor-league rehab assignment next week with Triple-A Las Vegas. The 34-year-old right-hander signed with the Athletics over the winter following four successful seasons in Korea. He should be part of Oakland's starting rotation by the end of April as he moves past a left hamstring strain that popped up in late March.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Rucinski on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a strained left hamstring.
Rucinski tweaked his hamstring a little over a week ago and it's unclear how much time he might miss. The right-hander should join the A's rotation when healthy.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Throws on flat ground
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Rucinski (hamstring) threw on flat ground Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Rucinski came down with some left hamstring tightness earlier this week and had to be scratched from what would have been his fourth Cactus League start. A's manager Mark Kotsay said after Thursday's workout that the team is "hopeful it's resolved prior to Opening Day."
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Uncertain for Opening Day
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Wednesday that Rucinski is a question mark for Opening Day due to left hamstring tightness, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's not clear when Rucinski suffered the injury, but he'll miss his next Cactus League start, and his status for the beginning of the regular season is up in the air. Paul Blackburn (finger) has already been ruled out for Opening Day, so the Athletics' rotation depth could be tested early on. It's been a rough spring for Rucinski, as he posted a 6.97 ERA in three Cactus League outings before picking up the hamstring injury.
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Athletics' Drew Rucinski: Struggling in spring
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Rucinski is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings over three Cactus League starts.
The veteran right-hander has given up multiple earned runs in each start, but he did turn in his best performance yet Tuesday against the White Sox while allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. Rucinski's last taste of regular-season MLB action came back in 2018 with the Marlins, after which he spent the next four seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. Rucinski is battling Kyle Muller and JP Sears for the fifth spot in Oakland's starting rotation, but he could certainly also fit in as a middle-relief option considering all but one of his 41 MLB appearances have come out of the bullpen.
